Paranormal drama Bedlam returns to Sky Living HD for a second series this spring.
Starring Will Young and Theo James, last year’s Series 1 introduced viewers to Bedlam Heights, a newly converted apartment building on the edge of a British metropolis. The high quality apartments offer stylish 21st century living, but behind the facade lie unimaginable horrors. This former pre-Victorian asylum is haunted by the ghosts of its dark and violent past.
> Buy Series 1 on DVD on Amazon.
Currently filming in Manchester, Series 2 will see EastEnders star Lacey Turner lead the show’s new cast as Ellie, a paramedic, with Gemma Chan (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) joining the cast as Kate’s old friend, Kiera, alongside newcomers Jack Roth and Nikesh Patel.
CultBox caught up with Bedlam writer and co-creator Neil Jones (Blue Murder, Waterloo Road) to find out what to expect in the new series…
How has filming on Series 2 been going?
“Really good – I was out on set just yesterday with Chris and David (the other writers) and we wandered around the building freaking ourselves out. The place is scary before we even do anything. Spooky old record players lying around and grass growing inside rooms and stuff.
“Hopefully that atmosphere seeps into the drama. It’s a big and challenging shoot but I think we’ve really hit our stride this series.”
Without giving anything away regarding plots, what have been the highlights of the shoot so far?
“Seeing the new cast together for the first time and the chemistry between them.
“The opening sequence of Episode 1 – there’s an image in it that startled me, and I wrote it. And I’m looking forward to a huge set piece that’s still to be filmed later this week, a proper big cinematic horror climax that should be amazing…”
How early on in the planning stages for Series 2 did you find out that you were going to have to change the majority of the cast?
“Well, the show lends itself to new characters coming in as people come and go in the building. So we were actually excited about coming at our ongoing story from a new angle.
“And of course this is the kind of show where nobody has to be gone forever – anyone can come back at any time…”
Has the success of the cast changes in the latest series of Misfits and Being Human helped to reassure you that fans are open to new characters joining cult shows?
“I think with all three shows the world they create is bigger than any individual character. Skins is probably an even better example of a show that keeps itself fresh with new characters and its continued success shows that it’s not a problem for audiences.”
Can you tell us a bit about what we should expect from Series 2’s new characters?
“I don’t want to give too much away yet so let’s just say that none of them are exactly what they seem when we first meet them.”
How did Lacey Turner’s casting come about? Did you have her in mind when you created the character of Ellie?
“Her name came up in our first conversation about Ellie and I don’t think any of us could see the character as anyone else after that. I even had her photo on my wall while I was writing. Er, that sounds weird, doesn’t it. I had Hugo Speer’s picture up too though. Okay that sounds weirder…
“Anyway, you often have one actor in your head for a part but it’s really unusual in my experience for them to end up doing it. So we were really lucky.”
> Read the second part of our exclusive interview.
> Buy Series 1 on DVD on Amazon.
Watch the Series 1 trailer…
Are you looking forward to Series 2? Let us know below…