Six Four (TV series)

Last updated

Six Four
Six Four Title Card.jpg
GenreCrime Drama
Based on Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama
Written by
Directed byBen A. Williams
Starring
ComposerLuke Richards
Country of originScotland
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producers
  • Gregory Burke
  • Juliette Howell
  • Tessa Ross
  • Molly Bolt
Production company House Productions
Original release
Network ITVX
Release30 March (2023-03-30) 
20 April 2023 (2023-04-20)

Six Four is a 2023 British crime thriller television series set in Glasgow and Edinburgh starring Kevin McKidd, Vinette Robinson, Alex Ferns and James Cosmo. It is an adaptation of the 2012 novel of the same name by Hideo Yokoyama. It was made available on ITVX in the United Kingdom from 30 March 2023.

Contents

Synopsis

Chris (McKidd) and Michelle (Robinson) are parents to a missing child, but a wider conspiracy may link the father (Cosmo) of another missing child to Chris' brother, Philip (Whipp). [1]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Episode 1"Ben A. WilliamsGregory Burke
Claire McQuillan
March 30, 2023 (2023-03-30)
In Edinburgh, DC Chris O’Neill and his wife Michelle are called to identify a body believed to be their missing daughter, Olivia. However, it is not her. Michelle (a former undercover officer) travels down to London and meets Tony, someone from her undercover days. In Glasgow, during a visit to police headquarters from Justice Minister Robert Wallace, Chris notices he is accompanied by former Special Branch officer Bill Martin, now working private security for the Scottish Government. Chris is asked questions by reporter Sam Wishart about Julie Mackie, a 16 year old missing person case that his brother Philip, now Assistant Chief Constable, worked on. She alleges Julie's father, Jim, states the family received a call from a kidnapper after her disappearance (of which there is a recording), but the police covered it up. Using her alias “Sarah Jones”, Michelle is rebuffed by Tony when she asks to be put in contact with Piers, someone she put in prison for 10 years. Chris visits Jim Mackie, but upon discovering he is police, Jim kicks him out the house and claims Julie was kidnapped by the Security Service because he “knew about Six Four”. Wishart is intimidated on the road whilst driving home. Wallace announces his SNP leadership candidacy. Wallace’s teenage daughter Annabel is kidnapped from Strathalmond School in Dumfries.
2"Episode 2"Ben A. WilliamsGregory Burke
Claire McQuillan
April 6, 2023 (2023-04-06)
Tony reluctantly provides Piers contact information to Michelle. Philip tells Chris that Wallace has promised him promotion to Chief Constable if he becomes First Minister, and asks him to probe Wishart about the alleged kidnapper phone recording. He discovers DC Gary Mclean, the audiologist on the Mackie case, was killed years prior by his partner. However, the file on his murder is locked. Annabel Wallace's disappearance is reported, and local PC Gordon Byrne is assigned to investigate. He finds Annabel's phone whilst retracing her steps. Jim Mackie is revealed to be Annabel's kidnapper. Chris speaks with Mclean's mother, April, who reveals Bill Martin was friends with him and searched his room after he died. Wishart tells Chris she is being monitored, and has been contacted by Stuart Simpson, Annabel’s teacher from Strathalmond, stating he has proof Julie Mackie is dead, not missing. She also spoke with Mackie, who promised her a copy of the kidnapping recording, and told her “Six Four” is a codename for an MI5 operative. Chris takes a phone given to Sam by Mackie. Michelle tells Chris she has made a “big mistake”. She confronts Piers, now terminally ill, for information on Olivia, who she reveals is his daughter. Chris breaks into Mackie's house, but is detained by operatives working for Martin.
3"Episode 3"Ben A. WilliamsGregory Burke
Claire McQuillan
April 13, 2023 (2023-04-13)
Chris is warned to stop investigating by Martin, who also threatens his brother. The Scottish Crime Agency sets up at the Wallace residence. Piers has no information on Olivia, so Michelle disarms him and his bodyguard and escapes. Chris returns home, and finds Olivia. She tells him she left due to the lies her parents told her. He confesses to his affair with Sam, and admits he only discovered he’s not her father that day from Michelle. Olivia leaves, and Chris informs Michelle. Jim reveals his identity to Annabel, and claims he has kidnapped her due to her fathers actions. Stuart Simpson is interviewed by the SCA, who reveal he is in considerable debt. He confesses Annabel told him she overheard her parents talking about Julie Mackie being dead. Chris fights with Phil, who still insists there were no calls on the Mackie case. Accessing Phil’s secure server, he uncovers the identity of Mcleans killer, Steven Bryce. Bryce tells Chris he was framed for murder by a policeman, after he was hired to steal documents from a lawyer and Julie accidentally fell. Unknown men took her body and he was forced to call the Mckenzie residence by Robert Wallace. Annabell convinces Jim to open the door, and knocks him out with a brick and escapes. She runs into Byrne, revealed to be aligned with Jim, who returns her and knocks her out.
4"Episode 4"Ben A. WilliamsGregory Burke
Claire McQuillan
April 20, 2023 (2023-04-20)
Chris meets Michelle, and they escape Martin’s men. Byrne calls Wallace with coordinates to meet in Galloway. Wallace reveals to Philip that Jim Mackie was his mentor. Byrne reveals to Annabel he was part of the Julie Mackie case, and DC Gary Mclean’s real partner, and is seeking revenge against Robert Wallace for his death. Wallace meets Mackie at a rural rendezvous, monitored by the police. Jim reveals it was Wallace who instructed Bryce to break into his house (where he accidentally killed Julie) to steal documents evidencing Wallace is an MI5 infiltrator into the SNP to prevent Scottish independence, codenamed “Six Four”. He demands Wallace go public in exchange for Annabel. Chris receives Annabel’s location on a phone he took from Sam, and meets with Byrne at the house, who holds him at gunpoint and reveals the same information. Upon hearing Martin’s men are en route, he gives a USB with a copy of the kidnap recording and documents to Chris and Michelle and releases Annabel. Confronted by Martin, Byrne commits suicide. Jim is killed by an CTSFO sniper when he advances on Wallace. Wallace is later appointed Deputy First Minister. Chris doesn't go public with the information, but plays the USB recording to Philip, which implicates him. He gives him the drive, urging him to do the right thing as a police officer.

Production

The series is produced by House Productions. [2] Clare Kerr is producer and Ben A. Williams is director. Gregory Burke is script writer executive producer alongside Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross and Molly Bolt. [3] Clare Mcquillan is also a writer on the series. Burke described the series as a “human story about two people under incredible amounts of pressure, who both choose to try and address their pasts. It is a story about how chance can define a lifetime, exploring the corruption that runs through institutions, and examining the secrets and monsters that lurk in every family.” [4] The adaptation moves the setting from Kyoto in Japan to Glasgow, Scotland with the main character’s name changing from Mikami to Chris. Script writer Gregory Burke explained the move by saying “In recent years we have not lacked our own examples of institutional inertia. Our public life and collective health has been jeopardised by corruption. In many of these situations the same dilemma is at their core; to what is the individual within the institution loyal, and does that loyalty inevitably lead to a compromise with the truth.” [5]

Casting

Kevin McKidd and Vinette Robinson were revealed to be cast as Chris and Michelle O’ Neill in May 2022. [6]

Filming

Six Four was filmed in both Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland in the summer of 2022. [7] [8]

Music

Music from the television series was released by Dubois Records on March 30, 2023. The album features a selection of original music for the series by Luke Richards. [9]

Broadcast

The series was available on ITVX in the United Kingdom from 30 March 2023. [10] ITV1 began airing the four episodes weekly, commencing Sunday 22 October 2023. [11]

Reception

Charlotta Billstrom awarded the series four stars in the Evening Standard , saying, "The cast deliver excellent performances" and "It’s tightly plotted too, and filler-free, making for four powerful episodes full of twists and turns." [12]

Related Research Articles

Jessica Brooke Capshaw is an American actress known for her roles as Jamie Stringer on the ABC legal drama series The Practice, and as Arizona Robbins on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Fraser</span> Scottish actress

Laura Fraser is a Scottish actress. She has played Door in the urban fantasy series Neverwhere, Kate in the film A Knight's Tale, Cat MacKenzie in the BBC Three drama series Lip Service and Lydia Rodarte-Quayle in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Ryan</span> English actress

Michelle Ryan is a British actress. She played Zoe Slater on the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2000–2005). In 2007, she starred in the short-lived American television series Bionic Woman. She appeared as the evil sorceress Nimueh in the 2008 BBC fantasy series Merlin and as Lady Christina de Souza in the 2009 Doctor Who episode "Planet of the Dead".

<i>Greys Anatomy</i> (soundtrack) 2005 soundtrack album by various artists

The Grey's Anatomy Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album series for the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, with four volumes released in the series. The albums with the exception of Volume 4 were released by Hollywood Records, while Volume 4 was released by Chop Shop Records and Atlantic Records. In addition, a box set featuring the first 3 volumes was released on the same day as the third volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Hayman</span> Scottish actor and director

David Hayman is a Scottish film, television and stage actor and director. His acting credits include Sid and Nancy (1986), Hope and Glory (1987), Rob Roy (1995), The Jackal (1997), Trial & Retribution (1997-2009), Legionnaire (1998), Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000), Vertical Limit (2000), The Tailor of Panama (2001), Flood (2007), The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008), The Paradise (2012), Taboo (2017), Our Ladies (2019), The Nest (2020), Bull (2021), and Andor (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Lewis (actor)</span> Scottish actor

Gary Stevenson, better known as Gary Lewis, is a Scottish actor. He has had roles in films such as Billy Elliot, Joyeux Noël, Gangs of New York and Eragon as well as major roles in the television docudrama Supervolcano and the Starz series Outlander.

Kari Corbett is a Scottish actress, artist and filmmaker. Corbett is perhaps best known for portraying Ruby Hepburn in the Channel 4 comedy drama Shameless, Nurse Marian McKaig in ITV's The Royal, Sarah in the BAFTA award-winning Jeopardy, Kirsty in David Mackenzie's film, You Instead, Jean McGrory in CBC's comedy Mr. D and Evie Watt in the award-winning BBC drama Shetland. Kari has also appeared opposite fellow Scottish actor Brian Cox in Bob Servant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morven Christie</span> Scottish actress

Morven Christie is a Scottish actress. She is best known for her roles as Alison Hughes in the BBC drama The A Word, Amanda Hopkins in the ITV drama Grantchester, and Detective Sergeant Lisa Armstrong in ITV crime series The Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin McKidd</span> Scottish actor

Kevin McKidd is a Scottish actor and television director. Before playing the role of Dr. Owen Hunt in Grey's Anatomy, for which he is widely known, McKidd appeared as Tommy Mackenzie in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting (1996).

<i>Greys Anatomy</i> season 5 Season of television series

The fifth season of the American television medical drama Grey's Anatomy, created by Shonda Rhimes, commenced airing on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on September 25, 2008 and concluded on May 14, 2009 with 24 aired episodes. The season follows the story of a group of surgeons as they go through their residency, while they also deal with the personal challenges and relationships with their mentors. Season 5 had 13 series regulars with 12 of them returning from the previous season, out of which 8 are part of the original cast. The season aired in the Thursday night time-slot at 9:00 pm. The season was officially released on DVD as a seven disc boxset under the title of Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Fifth Season – More Moments on September 9, 2009 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owen Hunt</span> Fictional character

Major (Ret.) Owen Hunt, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a fictional character from the medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy, which airs on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States. The character was created by series' producer Shonda Rhimes, and is portrayed by Scottish actor Kevin McKidd. He was introduced in season five as a U.S. Army trauma surgeon who served in war-torn Iraq, and subsequently joins the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital to teach medicine as a surgical attending, head of trauma surgery, and eventual chief of surgery, sometimes with unorthodox methods. Originally contracted to appear for a multi-episode story arc, he was upgraded to a series' regular at the conclusion of his first appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Pinnock</span> English actor (born 1973)

Nicholas Andre Pinnock is a British actor. He is known for his role as lead character Aaron Wallace in the American legal drama For Life.

<i>Unforgotten</i> British crime drama series (2015–)

Unforgotten is a British crime drama television series, which initially aired on ITV on 8 October 2015. It was created and written by Chris Lang and directed by Andy Wilson. The programme follows a team of London detectives led by DCI Cassie Stuart, DCI Jessie James and DI Sunny Khan as they solve cold cases of disappearance and murder.

<i>The Bay</i> (TV series) British crime drama series

The Bay is a British crime drama television series produced by Tall Story Pictures and distributed worldwide by ITV Studios Global Entertainment that first aired in March 2019 on ITV. The first two series starred Morven Christie as a detective sergeant family liaison officer. Marsha Thomason took over the leading role from series three as DS Jenn Townsend. The first series centred around an investigation into teenage missing twins from a family living in Morecambe. The name of the series derives from Morecambe Bay, in the county of Lancashire in the north-west of England.

Six Four is a fictional crime/mystery novel written by Hideo Yokoyama in Japanese and published in 2012. It was the first of his novels to be translated into English. The novel follows detective Mikami as he prepares for a visit to one of the top police officials in Japan. In fulfilling his duties, Mikami is plagued by responsibilities and conflicts that arise among the reporters, Administrative Affairs, and Criminal Investigations.

Tom Jones is an ITV four-part television drama reimagining Henry Fielding's 1749 novel The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling. It is directed by Georgia Parris and adapted by Gwyneth Hughes, with Solly McLeod playing the eponymous hero Tom Jones. The show premiered on PBS in the United States from 30 April 2023.

After the Flood is a British crime mystery thriller series written by Mick Ford and directed by Azhur Saleem. It stars Sophie Rundle as PC Joanna Marshall, a police officer investigating the death of an unidentified man after a natural disaster struck. The series is produced by Quay Street Productions for ITV and ITVX, and began airing on 10 January 2024.

Crime is a Scottish crime drama television series, an adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel of the same name. The 6-episode first series was co-written by Welsh and Dean Cavanagh and broadcast in 2021 on BritBox, later moved in the UK to be available on ITVX. It stars Dougray Scott as the detective Ray Lennox. Scott won an International Emmy Award in November 2022 for his performance. A second series began filming in Scotland in 2022 and premiered on September 21, 2023 on ITVX.

Rowan Robinson is an English actress. She is known for her roles in the film A Haunting in Venice (2023) and the ITV thriller Passenger (2024).

References

  1. Singh, Anita (30 March 2023). "Six Four, ITVX review: surprise, surprise – another crime thriller about a missing girl". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. Cormack, Morgan (16 March 2023). "Six Four: Release date, cast and latest news for ITVX crime thriller". Radio Times. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  3. "BBC Studios to distribute Six Four, produced by indie partner House Productions for ITV". bbc.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  4. Ramachandran, Naman (31 May 2022). "'Grey's Anatomy' Star Kevin McKidd, 'Boiling Point's' Vinette Robinson Cast in ITV Adaptation of Bestseller 'Six Four' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  5. Jessop, Vicky (31 March 2023). "Behind the scenes of ITV's new police drama Six Four". Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  6. Jones, Tamara (31 May 2022). "'Grey's Anatomy' Star Kevin McKidd and Vinette Robinson to Star in ITV Crime Thriller 'Six Four'". Collider. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  7. Berry, Jo (30 March 2023). "Grey's Anatomy's Kevin McKidd on staying with Grey's and returning to Scotland for thriller series Six Four". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  8. Christie, Janet (1 April 2023). "Grey's Anatomy star Kevin McKidd swaps LA for Scotland in his new TV crime thriller Six Four". Scotsman.com. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  9. "Soundtrack to ITV series 'Six Four' to be released". 29 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  10. Gilbert, Gerard (30 March 2023). "Six Four, ITVX, review: The second good crime drama this week – there's life in the genre yet" . Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  11. https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/six-four-release-date-itvx/
  12. Billstrom, Charlotta (30 March 2023). "Six Four on ITVX review: tight, thrilling and full of twists and turns". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2023.