From writer Colin Bateman, Dead and Buried stars Annabel Scholey and Colin Morgan. 

The BBC have announced the start of production on a new four-part psychological thriller.

Colin Bateman’s Dead and Buried is based on a short story which became the one-woman stage show Bag for Life and tackles the subject of revenge.

Writer and executive producer Bateman says:

“Although it has changed greatly, the actual conundrum at the heart of the story is universal and timeless – what do you do if you meet someone who has prospered after murdering one of your loved ones? Do you say something? Do you do something? How would you react?”

The television adaptation stars Annabel Scholey (The Serial Killer’s Wife, Doctor Who) and Colin Morgan (Merlin, Mammals).

Here’s the premise for Dead and Buried:

Outside the supermarket with her young son, Cathy (Annabel Scholey) encounters Michael (Colin Morgan) – the man convicted of the brutal murder of her brother, 20 years earlier. Ignoring the advice of her best friend, Cathy takes to social media, uncovering the successful career and family life Michael has forged for himself since early release from prison, while she grieved for her brother.

Re-traumatised by her past, Cathy instigates a clandestine relationship with the man she despises, embarking on a campaign of harassment and deceit. As Cathy’s obsession grows, dark fantasies of revenge and reality blur as she sets out on a campaign of psychological warfare to destroy Michael’s life.

Joining Scholey and Morgan are Kerri Quinn, Waj Ali (Carnival Row), Owen Roe (Vikings) and Niamh Walsh (The Sandman).

Annabel Scholey says:

“Cathy is a wonderfully complex character and I’m excited to be bringing her to life and to taking her to dark places with this brilliant team. Laura Way is a director I’ve worked with before and we have a wonderful shorthand, so it’s very exciting to be teaming up again for such a compelling story.”

Colin Morgan says:

“I’m delighted to be embarking on Colin Bateman’s dark, funny and compulsive new drama Dead And Buried. There’s a brilliant team working on this and it already feels incredibly exciting, I can’t wait for it to hit the screens and for it to pull viewers along its twisted path.”

Dead and Buried is produced by Three River Fiction and Vico Films, with support from Screen Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen and Coimisiún na Meán, in association with All3Media International. It was commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland and Virgin Media Ireland.

Written by Colin Bateman (Murphy’s Law), the series director is Laura Way (Maxine).

Set on the border, the series will film in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland over the coming months.