The BBC has unveiled the trailer for its latest high-speed thriller Nightsleeper, alongside the announcement of its official premiere date. This real-time drama promises a pulse-pounding narrative, with all six episodes becoming available on BBC iPlayer from 6 am on Sunday, September 15, 2024. Fans eager to watch it on traditional television can catch it on BBC One, where episodes will air on Sunday and Monday nights at 9 pm across three consecutive weeks.
Nightsleeper is a gripping six-part series written by BAFTA award-winner Nick Leather, known for Murdered for Being Different and The Control Room. The show, produced by Fremantle’s Euston Films for the BBC, is set aboard a train travelling from Glasgow to London. This journey takes a dark and dangerous turn when the train is “hackjacked”, sending passengers into a night of uncertainty and fear. Blending action adventure with a classic whodunnit mystery wrapped around a modern thriller, the show’s plot twists and turns as no one aboard is quite who they seem.
Front and centre in this high-stakes drama are Joe Cole (Gangs of London, A Small Light, Peaky Blinders) and Alexandra Roach (The Light in the Hall, No Offence, Sanditon), who lead the ensemble cast. Cole plays Joe Roag, an off-duty police officer onboard the hijacked train, while Roach takes on the role of Abby Aysgarth, the acting technical director at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Together, they must unravel the mystery of who is controlling the train and their motives, while navigating whether they are up against a hostile state, a terrorist cell, or an organised crime syndicate. The figure known only as the “Driver” stays a step ahead of every attempt to halt the train, further deepening the intrigue.
One of the most compelling dynamics of the series lies in the partnership between Abby and Joe, who have never met in person but must rely on each other in this high-pressure situation. As they fight for control, they grapple with the bigger question: who among the passengers can they trust? And could someone onboard be in on the hijacking? Can they even trust each other?
The cast is rounded out by a mix of celebrated actors, including Alex Ferns (The Devil’s Hour, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, EastEnders), Sharon Small (The Bay, About A Boy, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries), James Cosmo (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Highlander, Braveheart), David Threlfall (Shameless, Passenger, Bing), Daniel Cahill (The Control Room), Lois Chimimba (Vigil, The Outlaws, The One), Gabriel Howell (The Fence, How To Train Your Dragon (Live Action 2025 film), Bodies), and Katie Leung (Harry Potter, Arcane, Annika).
Joining those incredible cast members as well are Leah MacRae (Baby Reindeer, River City), Ruth Madeley (Years and Years, Doctor Who, The Rook), Adam Mitchell (Mother’s Day, Beauty and the Beast), Pamela Nomvete (Andor, Gangs of London, Coronation Street), Scott Reid (Maxine, White House Farm, Carnival Row), Sharon Rooney (Barbie, My Mad Fat Diary, Dumbo), and Parth Thakerar (Gangs of London, Brassic). With such a strong ensemble, Nightsleeper promises a thrilling blend of intense performances and suspenseful storytelling.
The series is brought to life under the executive production of Kate Harwood (EastEnders, Hard Sun, Dublin Murders), managing director of Euston Films, alongside Nick Leather, Jamie Magnus Stone, and Gaynor Holmes (Shetland, Vigil, Call The Midwife) for the BBC. The directing team includes Jamie Magnus Stone (Doctor Who, Ten Pound Poms) and John Hayes (Dublin Murders, Redemption). The show is the brainchild of Nick Leather acting as the creator and writer, with additional writing contributions from Laura Grace (Das Boot, The Last Kingdom, The Rising) on episodes four and five. Jonathan Curling (The Sister, Baghdad Central) leads production duties, with Daisy Costello serving as co-producer. Fremantle is handling the show’s global distribution.
Watch the Nightsleeper Trailer Below:
Nightsleeper is shaping up to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will have viewers guessing at every turn. Mark your calendars for September 15 and prepare for a night of suspense, intrigue, and drama. Whether you prefer to binge the entire series on BBC iPlayer or take it in week by week on BBC One, Nightsleeper promises to be a must-watch event this autumn.
