Brenda Fricker and Siobhán McSweeney will star alongside Conleth Hill in ITV's four-part adaptation of Graham Norton's debut novel, Holding.
Academy award-winning actress Brenda Fricker will return to television to star alongside Conleth Hill in Holding, which is being filmed on location in West Cork, Ireland and directed by Kathy Burke.
She is joined by leading Irish actors Siobhán McSweeney, Charlene McKenna, Helen Behan and Pauline McLynn.
Completing the cast are Clinton Liberty, Amy Conroy, Olwen Fouéré, Eleanor Tiernan, Gary Shelford, Lochlann Ó’Meárain, Sky Yang, Demi Issac Oviawe, Norma Sheahan and Anne Kent with Calum Rea, Jane Spollen, Jim O’Donnell, Pat Kinevane, Karl Quinn, Michael Fry, Maria Connolly, Ian Brooker, Abhainn Harrington, Christopher Logan, Molly Logan, Terhas Gleeson, Ivet Corvea, Gary Murphy and Felix Brown.
Olivier award-winning actor, Conleth Hill plays local police officer Sergeant PJ Collins, a gentleman who hides from people and fills his days with comfort food and half-hearted police work. He is one of life’s outsiders, lovable, but lonely and a bit rubbish at his job.
When the body of long-lost local legend Tommy Burke is discovered, PJ is called to solve a serious crime for the first time in his career. Unearthing long-buried secrets, PJ finally connects with the village he has tried so hard to avoid.
Siobhán McSweeney plays vulnerable, messy Bríd Riordan. Bríd had been due to marry Tommy before his untimely disappearance, whilst Charlene McKenna is youthful, stuck Evelyn Ross who desperately loved him. The two women are at the heart of the community and neither is above suspicion.
Speaking about joining Holding, Siobhán said "I cannot think of a better script in a better place with a better cast and crew. I’m in heaven being back in Cork."
Set in the insular fictional village of Duneen, West Cork, on the edge of Ireland, a place with its own climate and rhythms, Holding is a darkly funny and an inherently Irish production with support from Screen Ireland.
Brenda Fricker takes the role of Lizzie Meany, a shy presence in PJ’s life who has been battling her own demons and secrets as PJ comes to discover.
Speaking about joining Holding, Brenda said "I am ecstatic to be part of this wonderful production, in beautiful Skibbereen, and finally not to be playing a mother! Mrs Meany is a bit of a dark horse. She has had a dreadful life but has retained her values, her friendships and most of all her sense of humour, keep a sharp eye on her."
ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill has commissioned the series for the channel and will oversee production from the broadcaster’s perspective.
Holding is written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Karen Cogan for Dominic’s ITV Studios label, Happy Prince, and adapted from Graham Norton’s debut novel of the same title. The drama is produced by Martina Niland for Port Pictures in association with Screen Ireland with co-production partners Virgin Media Television.
Holding will air on ITV