Trigger Point (TV series)

Trigger Point
Promotional poster for the first series
Genre
Created byDaniel Brierley
Written byDaniel Brierley
Directed by
  • Gilles Bannier
  • Jennie Darnell
StarringVicky McClure
ComposerChris Roe
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJessica Sharkey
Running time60 minutes
Production companyHTM Television
Original release
NetworkITV
Release23 January 2022 (2022-01-23)[1] –
present

Trigger Point is a British crime thriller television series starring Vicky McClure as a police bomb disposal expert in London.[2] It was created and written by Daniel Brierley, and first broadcast on 23 January 2022 on ITV. In June 2022, it was announced that NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming platform had acquired the series for the US starting on 8 July 2022.

On 27 February 2022, it was announced that a second series had been commissioned, and it began broadcasting on 28 January 2024.[3][4] A third series was commissioned on 11 October 2024.[5]

Plot

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Lana Washington is an ex-military bomb disposal operative (known as an 'Expo') and Afghan War veteran who heads a Metropolitan Police bomb squad, using her skills to counter terrorist threats involving explosives.

Cast

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Main

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  • Vicky McClure as EXPO Lana Washington
  • Mark Stanley as DI/DCI Thom Youngblood (Series 1—2)
  • Adrian Lester as EXPO Joel "Nut" Nutkins (Series 1)
  • Nabil Elouahabi as EXPO Hassan "Hass" Rahim
  • Kris Hitchen as EXPO John Hudson (Series 1—2)
  • Eric Shango as EXPO Danny
  • Kerry Godliman as Dr. Sonya Reeves
  • Nadine Marshall as DSupt. Marianne Hamilton (Series 1)
  • Manjinder Virk as DI Samira Desai (Series 1)
  • Ralph Ineson as Commander Bregman (Series 1)
  • Julian Ovenden as Commander John Francis (Series 2—present)
  • Natalie Simpson as DS Helen Morgan (Series 2—present)
  • Maanuv Thiara as DI Amar Batra (Series 2—present)
  • Cris Haris as Counter Terrorism Specialist & Firearms Officer (Series 1-2)
  • Kevin Eldon as Jeff Washington
  • Tamzin Griffin as Val Washington
  • Ewan Mitchell as Billy Washington (Series 1)

Series 1

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  • Cal MacAninch as Inspector Lee Robins
  • Warren Brown as Karl Maguire
  • Tom Stokes as Pete
  • Gavin Sibson as PS Costa
  • Gwynfor Jones as PS Brown
  • Michael Akinsulire as PS Carney
  • Lucy Russell as Moira Bloxham
  • Salima Saxton as Ayesha Campbell-Khan
  • Rick Warden as Andy Phelan
  • Neil Stoddart as Nick Roberts
  • Camilla Power as Agatha Jack
  • Jennifer Castle as Jocasta Wellings
  • Mo Idriss as Ali Hussein

Series 2

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  • Bethan Cullinane as Hope
  • Tomiwa Edun as Alex
  • Dan Whitlam as Tim
  • Lewis Jamison as Josh
  • Thom Ashley as Nick Hood
  • Lee Colley as Hanson
  • Dino Kelly as Mac
  • Os Leanse as Hugo
  • Oliver Senton as Webster King

Production

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Jed Mercurio mentored Brierly, who was new to television, and developed the series during a television bursary scheme. The series was filmed in London.[6]

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally airedAverage UK viewers
(millions)
First airedLast aired
1623 January 2022 (2022-01-23)27 February 2022 (2022-02-27)7.80
2628 January 2024 (2024-01-28)3 March 2024 (2024-03-03)6.86

Series 1 (2022)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [7]
1"Episode 1"Gilles BannierDaniel Brierley23 January 2022 (2022-01-23)8.85
In the middle of a summer heatwave, Explosives Officers ("EXPO") Lana Washington and Joel Nutkins are called out to a Metropolitan Police counterterrorism operation at a London housing estate to investigate a potential bomb factory. There is no sign of the bomb maker but with evidence of an even deadlier terrorist threat, Lana and Joel must work against the clock to save as many lives as possible. The first bomb is revealed to be simple fireworks in the toilet of a flat. The second is found on Andy Phelan in the boot of his car. Lana and Joel manage to disarm this bomb manually. Joel assists in investigating a suspicious parked van, which detonates, hiding a third bomb; Joel and several bystanders are killed.
2"Episode 2"Gilles BannierDaniel Brierley30 January 2022 (2022-01-30)7.71
Four days after the bombing at the housing estate, Lana and Danny respond to a suspected bomb on a bus, which turns out to be a false alarm. Following Joel’s funeral, Lana and her colleagues drink away their sorrows. New reports of a bombing points the police to an abandoned factory, which they discover is used as a bomb factory. Lana suspects some wires to have been planted, while Youngblood advises her to tread carefully. Far right extremists take to the street and blame islamists for the bombing. This later proves contrary as a bomb is discovered at a mosque. The countdown is already at five minutes when Lana goes in to defuse it. She also discovers someone behind the door the bomb is attached to. With three minutes left on the timer, Youngblood rushes in and orders her to leave the mosque. She faces the dilemma of saving the man behind the door or leaving immediately.
3"Episode 3"Gilles BannierDaniel Brierley6 February 2022 (2022-02-06)6.95
With seconds left on the bomb’s timer, Lana desperately attempts to unlock the door. Danny rushes in when it hits 20 seconds and convinces her to get out before it detonates, killing the captured man. Lana shares her experience with her friend, Karl. She also has an outburst at one of her colleagues, John Hudson, blaming him for not getting backup. The police investigate a cryptic message left by a right-wing splinter group, The Crusaders, which claims responsibility for the mosque bombing. Lana and Sonya discover that the bomb material is highly classified, and the former asks Youngblood to look into it. Another bomb is discovered outside an LGBT bar, The Five Oaks. With smoke grenades as a distraction against a sniper, Lana and Danny manage to disarm the bomb. Armed police storm the block of flats where the sniper was located, but only manage to kill the bomber, Nic Roberts. An officer is killed by a second suspect, having just discovered a police vest. Lana suspects that the second suspect is an insider, and even floats the possibility of a third suspect, a bomb maker. She breaks into Hudson’s locker, and discovers a map book marked with the locations of the bombings.
4"Episode 4"Jennie DarnellDaniel Brierley13 February 2022 (2022-02-13)7.42
The police discover the burned out remains of the Prius that the bomber stole. Lana presents the evidence from Hudson’s locker to Youngblood, who promises to look into it. Her brother Billy misses a meeting with the police, and she starts looking for him. She and her parents discover his flat is empty. Lana takes her suspicions against John to the next level when she directly accuses him at New Scotland Yard, leading to DSU Marianne Hamilton asking her to take leave. Shortly afterwards, she is brought back in again after commander Bregman informs her that her brother has ties with The Crusaders and Roberts. Billy discovers a bomb in his glovebox when Lana contacts him. She directs him away from an underground station and into Cranstead Fields. Reinforcements arrive, and Lana attempts to defuse the bomb. With the timer activated, Billy starts to panic when it counts down from 30 seconds. Despite Lana’s warnings, he opens the door, leading to the bomb detonating and killing him.
5"Episode 5"Jennie DarnellDaniel Brierley20 February 2022 (2022-02-20)7.61
Lana spends time grieving Billy’s death, and tries to drink away her sorrows and eventually decides to start therapy on the advice of Hamilton. She also tackles a conflicting statement with Youngblood regarding who she was with just before being called by the police. Another bomb is discovered at the University of South London, which is hosting a debate for a by-election. Lana goes in with Hudson to disarm the bomb. In the meantime, armed police spot the bomber, Frank Welsh, with two phones to detonate the bomb. They’re authorised to shoot him. As Hudson leaves, he detonates the bomb via his phone, and escapes. Evidence from his home leads them to another bomb at a ‘progressive alliance’ office, with a bomb located in a nearby car. Lana discovers gas triggers at the office, planted there and in the surrounding houses.
6"Episode 6"Jennie DarnellDaniel Brierley27 February 2022 (2022-02-27)8.24
The bomb is defused. Hamilton takes Lana in as an advisor for the investigation, just as Hudson makes contact via text message, sending her the numbers 661142. They discover the location from which the text message was sent matches the location of an MOD black site that stores explosives of the same kind used in the prior attacks. The police secure the Deptford Town Hall after deducing that the attacks targeted the campaign in the by-election. Hudson’s unconscious body is discovered in St Jude’s chapel. As the Labour candidate is declared the by-election winner, Lana’s friend Karl Maguire takes the stage and reveals that he has a bomb. He reveals his intentions as revenge for the coverup of an ambush in Afghanistan back in 2009. The Labour candidate, Aleysha Campbell-Khan, was the chair of the Defence Select Committee at the time, who he blames for the coverup. Lana manages to talk to Maguire as SCO19 find positions. One of them manages to get a shot on Maguire, killing him. Hudson reawakens, his motive for marking the bombing locations revealed to be to become a senior like Lana. Her team is called into preliminary hearings after the incident.

Series 2 (2024)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [7]
1"Episode 1"Jon EastSimon Ashdown & Daniel Brierley28 January 2024 (2024-01-28)6.36
2"Episode 2"Jon EastSimon Ashdown & Daniel Brierley4 February 2024 (2024-02-04)6.55
3"Episode 3"Audrey CookeSimon Ashdown11 February 2024 (2024-02-11)6.66
4"Episode 4"Jon EastAmanda Duke18 February 2024 (2024-02-18)6.91
5"Episode 5"Audrey CookeAmanda Duke25 February 2024 (2024-02-25)7.38
6"Episode 6"Audrey CookeChris Brandon & Amanda Duke3 March 2024 (2024-03-03)7.27

Reception

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Lucy Mangan for The Guardian gave the first episode three out of five, remarking, 'It's great fun as long as you set your preposterousness levels to ‘high’. Go in thinking CSI: Peckham or Line of Bomb Duty or Bomby McBombface, rather than The Wire But With Actual Wires or Breaking Explosively Badly and you'll enjoy yourself a lot more."[8] Ed Cumming of The Independent also gave it three out five, praising the tension but finding the dialogue and storytelling melodramatic.[9]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2022 National Television Awards Drama Performance Vicky McClure Nominated [10]

References

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  1. ^ "Hat Trick Mercurio Ltd". Htmtelevision.com. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Trigger Point release date: Cast, trailer and news for Vicky McClure series". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Trigger Point will return for series 2 in 2023, ITV confirms". Independent.co.uk. 28 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Trigger Point, starring Vicky McClure, confirms season 2 release date on ITV". radiotimes.com. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  5. ^ "ITV commissions a third series of Trigger Point starring Vicky McClure". ITV Press Centre. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Trigger Point: ITV series cast, filming locations and episode guide". The Independent. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b "BARB Four Screen Dashboard". BARB. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Trigger Point review – utterly preposterous … but what a blast". The Guardian. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Trigger Point is like junkfood - it's tasty but you'll feel dirty afterwards: review". The Independent. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  10. ^ Lawes, Ruth (23 August 2022). "National Television Awards 2022 nominations revealed". Metro News. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
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