Palin takes his first lead role in a BBC One drama in over 20 years

Michael Palin is to lead the cast of new, 3-part BBC One supernatural thriller, Remember Me from award-winning writer Gwyneth Hughes (The Girl, Five Days, Miss Austen Regrets) and Mammoth Screen.

The actor, comedian, writer and explorer will star as Tom Parfitt, a frail, old Yorkshireman seemingly alone in the world, whose admittance to a nursing home triggers a series of inexplicable events.

On the day elderly Tom Parfitt leaves his home to move into residential care, he becomes the sole witness to a violent death. Teenage care assistant Hannah (Jodie Comer – My Mad Fat Diary) and investigating police detective Rob Fairholme (Mark Addy – The Full Monty, Atlantis), try to unravel the riddle of his mysterious history, and are drawn into an eerie and dangerous world of lost love and betrayal.

Michael says: “This is my first lead role in a TV drama series since G.B.H. It’s also a return to Yorkshire, where I was born, brought up and learnt my acting in amateur dramatics.

“I was attracted to Remember Me not only by the northern setting, but also by a good, strong challenging role, something I could really get what remains of my teeth into… I’ve always loved ghost stories, so playing the lead in one is a very exciting prospect.”

Julia Sawalha (Larkrise To Candleford) also stars as Hannah’s troubled mother Jan Ward with Mina Anwar (The Thin Blue Line) as Tom’s neighbour Roshana Salim.

Controller of BBC One, Charlotte Moore, says: “It’s a real coup for us that Michael Palin has chosen to make his return to a leading role for the first time in over 20 years on BBC One, and a testament to Gwyneth Hughes’ hauntingly brilliant script.”

Rebecca Keane, executive producer for Mammoth Screen, says: “Gwyn is one of the UK’s most accomplished writers and Remember Me is a strikingly original supernatural story. With the hugely impressive young actor Jodie Comer joining Mark Addy and Michael Palin in the key roles, we’re confident this will be a very special drama.”

The thriller will be produced by Chris Carey (The Ambassadors, Run) and directed by Ashley Pearce (The Accused: Tracie’s Story, Garrow’s Law). Executive producers are Rebecca Keane and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Gwyneth Hughes and Polly Hill for the BBC.

Remember Me starts filming this week in Huddersfield and Scarborough for transmission on BBC One later this year.