Calling all mystery thriller fans! ITV has announced a new six-part series, Two Birds, is in the works, and it sounds like the perfect pick for your next TV binge.
Starring Sheridan Smith (I Fought the Law, Cilla, Mrs Biggs), the “exhilarating” drama is set and filmed in Western Australia, where a British police officer attempts to rebuild her life following the death of her partner.
Written by Helen FitzGerald (The Cry) and directed by BAFTA-nominated James Griffiths (The Ballad of Wallis Island, Maternal, Episodes), the series is executive produced by Patrick Spence (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, A Spy Among Friends) for AC Chapter One, alongside Martha Coleman (Scrublands: Silver) for Third Act Stories.
With Sheridan at the helm, known for her standout performances in gripping true crime dramas such as I Fought the Law and Four Lives, and Mr Bates vs The Post Office producer Patrick Spence on board, Two Birds looks set to keep viewers hooked from start to finish.
What is Two Birds about?
The six-part series is set in Kalgoorlie, a “rarely seen on screen” remote mining town in Australia, described as a “harsh, beautiful and isolating world” that “clings tightly to its secrets”.
The synopsis reads: “The series centres on British Police Constable Izzie Cornwell, played by Sheridan Smith, who arrives in the small fictional town of Dugdale having been recently widowed and intent on a fresh start and a new life in Australia.
“Focused upon chasing away her grief, Izzie hopes to reconnect with her sister who moved to the Kalgoorlie area with her Australian husband, and most important of all, to rebuild trust with her twenty-year-old daughter, who is scared by her mother’s recent destructive behaviour.
“Izzie is assigned to investigate a murder alongside her new boss Matt, a Homicide Detective from Perth, played by Stephen Peacocke. When the victim is revealed to be part of a notorious local crime family, led by the formidable Mrs Baxter, played by Judy Davis, the stakes intensify. Determined to protect her family and uncover the truth, Mrs Baxter exerts fierce pressure on the case.
“But the night before Izzie joins the case, one reckless last hurrah goes disastrously wrong and a split-second decision results in consequences Izzie can’t undo, forcing her into a secret she must do everything to contain.”
Who stars in Two Birds?
Sheridan leads the show as Izzie, while the wider ensemble includes Judy Davis (Nitram, The Dressmaker) and Stephen Peacocke (Five Bedrooms, The Newsreader).
© Getty ImagesWhat have the cast and creatives said about Two Birds?
Speaking about the new series, Sheridan said: “I’m thrilled to be playing the irresistibly complex Izzie Cornwell who is in search of new beginnings in Australia. Helen FitzGerald has created a dream role for me, as Izzie, through no fault of her own, becomes embroiled in a web of secrets and lies.
She continued: “I’m also looking forward to returning to film in Australia and working with the team at AC Chapter One, ITV and STAN, Australia as we bring Two Birds to life.”
© WireImageMeanwhile, Drama Commissioner Callum Dziedzic added: “From the very first script, it felt like we’d struck gold with Two Birds. Built on an irresistible hook, Helen FitzGerald has crafted a propulsive, twisty thriller with real humanity.
“Sheridan is perfect in the lead and brings her inimitable warmth and depth to Izzie. We can’t wait for our audience to join her in Dugdale and see the extraordinary scale of the gold mine for themselves.”
Filming begins this spring in Perth and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. A release date has yet to be announced.
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