Contents

Pressrelease 3

ForewordbycreatorsPaulRutmanandNatashaNarayan 5

Charactersynopses 7

InterviewwithArchiePanjabi 9

InterviewwithJackDavenport 15

InterviewwithShabana Azmi 19

InterviewwithViveikKalra 24

InterviewwithClaireSkinner 27

EpisodeSynopses 29

CastCredits 30

ProductionCredits 31

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EmmyAwardwinnerandGoldenGlobenominee,ArchiePanjabi(TheGoodWife,TheFall),andrenownedactor,JackDavenport(PiratesoftheCaribbean,Smash),starinMammothScreen’sfast-pacedfamilythriller,NextOfKin.

Thecontemporarydramafollowswhip-smartdoctorMonaHarcourt(Panjabi)wholivesinLondonwithpoliticallobbyisthusbandGuy(Davenport).WhenabombgoesoffinLondononthesamedaythatherbrother,Kareem,isabductedandmurderedinPakistan,Mona’scharmedlifeisshakentoitscore.

ThesituationescalateswhenMonarealises thatherbrother’ssonDanish– knownasDanny– hasvanishedfromuniversityandisbeinglinkedtoboththebombingandthemurderofhisfather.Withthefamilyfacingaccusationsandbecomingembroiledinatangledwebofbetrayalandconspiracy,Monafindsherselfconfrontedwiththeultimatedilemma:howfarwouldyougotokeepyourfamilysafe?

CreatedbyBAFTA-nominatedPaulRutman (IndianSummers,Vera)inhisfirstcollaborationwithauthorandwife,NatashaNarayan,theseriesisdirectedbyEmmyAwardandBAFTAAward-nominatedJustinChadwick(Mandela:LongWalkToFreedom,BleakHouse).

ARCHIEPANJABIANDJACKDAVENPORTSTARINNEWITVDRAMA,NEXTOFKIN

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NextOfKinwascommissionedbyITV’sHeadofDramaPollyHill,whosays:“Theseriestellsanincrediblyimportantandpertinentstoryforourtime,promisingtogripaudiencesandexploresonemother’sdilemmatoprotectherlovedones.”

TheseriesisproducedbyoneoftheUK’sleadingdramaindies,MammothScreen,knownforshowsincludingVictoria,Endeavour andFearlessforITV,PoldarkandTheWitnessForTheProsecution forBBC1andNWandTheCityAndTheCity forBBCTwo.

NextOfKin isproducedbyRebeccaFerguson(ColdFeet)andexecutiveproducedbyMammothScreen’sPreethi Mavahalli (NW)andManagingDirector,DamienTimmer (Victoria).

Preethi Mavahalli said:“WithabrilliantcastledbyArchiePanjabiandJackDavenport,NextOfKinissettobeapowerfulandtensefamilydramathatwillsparkdebateinhomesacrosstheUK.”

TheserieswillbedistributedbyITVStudiosGlobalEntertainment.

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PaulRutman &Natasha Narayan,Creators

NextofKinisashowaboutanordinaryfamilyunderextraordinarypressure.Mona’sfamilyarealarge,extendedclan– closedespitegeographicaldistances.The Londonmembersofthefamilytendtoliveineachother’spockets.Yetwhenthingsgowrong,thesilencesandmisunderstandingsintheirlivesthreatentotearthemapart.

Thisstoryissetagainstasadlyfamiliarbackdrop.Abombing,thedeathofinnocents,griefandoutrage,momentsofsilence,wordsofresilienceandangerfrompoliticians.Likeeveryoneelsewe’vewatchedthenews,appalled.Itwasafteronesuchatrocitythatwewondered,whatwoulditbeliketoslipbehindtheheadlines?Whatwoulditbeliketoexperienceanactofterrorfromtheinside?Tobeafamilyunwittinglycaughtuponthewrongside?

Therehavebeenshowswhichhavecoveredterrorismfromtheperspectiveofthesecurityservices.Wefelttheexperienceofafamily– atthecentreofsuchaninvestigation–wassomethingwehadn’tseen.

OurheroineMonaisadoctor,whoseparentsemigratedtoBritainfromPakistanwhenshewastwo.HerolderbrotherKareemisalsoadoctor,thoughonewhochoosestospendmuchofhistime

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runningacharitableclinicbackinPakistan.MonaismarriedtoGuyHarcourt,alobbyist,withconnectionstotheworldofWestminster.

ThisisamodernBritishfamily:messyandcomplicated,withitsshareofsecretsandfailedmarriages.Someofitsmembers– likeMona’smotherMrsShirani– aredevoutMuslims.Others–likeheryoungersiblingsAniandOmar– don’tgivemuchofathoughttothemosque.

TheworldofKalashnikovsandJihad,ofAnasheedvideosandapostasy,hasasmuchtodowiththisfamilyastheSalemWitchTrialshavetowithamodernAnglican.Sowhenthisworldcollideswiththeirown,theirreactionsquicklyturnfromgrieftodenial:thiscan’tbehappening, itcan’tbehappeningtous.

AcrosstheWestandbeyond,largeminorityMuslimpopulationsfindthemselvescaughtinthiscrossfire.Theymaydenythatthereisaproblem,theymayproclaimnotinmyname.Stillthey’reindanger– andnotjusttotheresurgentfarright– ofbeingviewedasathreat.Thisseemstousastorywithuniversalovertones.LiketheJapaneseinAmericawhenPearlHarbourwasbombed,Muslimscancometobeseenastheenemywithin.

NextofKin issetwithinthisterritory,butitisfirmlyashowwithfamilyatitsheart.Ittrackstheliving,breathingexperienceofpeoplewhofindthemselvescaughtupinamaelstrom.Asthestoryprogress,itopensuptowiderterritory,butalwaysretainstheperspectiveofanordinaryfamilytryingtodotherightthingbythemselves,eachother,andtheircountry.

Duringtheextensiveresearchforthisshowwe’vetalkedtomanyexpertsinthefield.We’vebeenparticularlyhelpedbytwocourageouswomenwho’vedevotedmuchoftheirlivestocombattingradicalisationamongyoungpeople:SaraKhanofInspireandtheMuslimChaplain,KalsoomBashir.We’realsohugelyindebtedtoCommanderRichardWalton,formerlydirectorofCounterTerrorismCommand.Hisdetailedandpainstakingadvicehasbeenincrediblyhelpful.

FinallyourthankstotheteamatMammothandITVcommissionerPollyHill– whoofferedusunwaveringsupportinthisefforttotellanuncomfortablestory.

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ArchiePanjabi playsMona Harcourt

Smartandsociabledoctor,Mona,livesinWestLondonwithherhusbandGuy,sonSammi andmother,MrsShirani.Highlyambitiousandfiercelyloyal,shehasahappyhomelifeandacloserelationshipwithherextendedfamily.

Thesecondoffoursiblings,shewasborninPakistanbutmovedtoLondonwithherfamilywhenshewasyoung.Astheoldestfemalesibling,sheispronetoadoptingthemotherfigureroleandsheistheonewhoralliesthefamilywhenKareemdiesandwhotheylooktoforguidance.

Thoughshe’snotDanny’smother,Mona’sincrediblymaternaltowardshimandisfacedwithanunimaginabledilemmaofhowfarshewillgotoprotectanddefendhim.

Jack Davenportplays GuyHarcourt

GuyisalobbyistworkinginWestminsterandmarriedtoMonawithwhomhehasason,Sammi.

Hecomesfromamiddleclassfamily,withamotherwhoencouragedhimtoappreciatethefinerthingsinlife,butheisn’toverlyinterestedinthatlifestyle.Heisverylaidbackandavoidsconfrontationatallcosts,butisverygoodathisjobandhighlysuccessful.

Lifeisnotacompletebreezethough,andheandMonahavetobattletolivethelivestheyaspiretolive.Guy’sprofessionallifeisaboutconstantlystrugglingtostayafloat,fightingforwork,contactsandinfluence.

Shabana Azmi playsMrsShirani

MrsShirani isMona’smotherwholiveswithherandGuyinWestLondon.

Sheappearstobeasimple,traditionalsoulbutthere’smoretoherbecauseshe’sfiercelyproudofherchildrenandnotabovealittlescheming.LikeMona,she’swittyandsmart,butoftenunderestimatedbyherfamilyandunderstandsmorethanherchildrenoftengivehercreditfor.

Physically,she’salittlefrailbutcertainlynottobedismissedassheisaproudandopinionatedwomanwhoknowshermind.

CHARACTER BIOGRAPHIES

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Viveik Kalra plays DannyShirani

Dannyisatypical,19-year-oldathleticteenagercurrentlyatUniversitypursuingasportingcareer.

HeisKareem’ssonfromapreviousmarriagebuthismotherhassincepassedaway.HeispartoftheShirani familyunit,buthefeelsslightlyseparatetoeveryoneelse.However,MonahasastrongrelationshipwithDannyandhastakenonamotherfigureroleinhislife.

CHARACTER BIOGRAPHIES (cont’d)

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ARCHIEPANJABIPLAYSMONAHARCOURT

WhatattractedyoutoNextOfKin?

“IwasfilminginNewYorkatthetimewhenIreadthefirstscriptforNextOfKin.Myfirstreactionwas,‘Iwanttoreadepisodetwo.I’mtotallygrippedbythisscript.’It’sveryintelligentlywritten,timelyandIwastotallycaptivatedbythecharacterofMonaandthejourneysheencounters.”

WhoisMona?

“MonaisaverygoodGPandworkswellwithherpatients.That’salottodowiththepersonsheis.She’sverysociableanddefinitelyapeopleperson.SheisalsoverysupportiveofherhusbandGuyandhiswork.

“She’sasecondgenerationimmigrantwhoconsidersherselftobeveryEnglishbutalsoholdsquitetraditionalvalues.MonahaslivedinWest

Londonwithherfamilyformostofherlife,andforher,familyisthebeallandtheendall.Shefeelsveryprotective,loyalandresponsibleforthem.”

“It’savaluesheinheritedfromherparents,inparticularherfather.Hiswasaclassicstoryofthemarrivinghereinthe1970sandhimhavingtoworkinunskilledjobsbecauseofbeingunabletogetajobthathewasproperlyqualifiedforbackhome.HeencourageshischildrentoassimilateintoBritishsocietyandtoworkhard;tomakesureyoulookafterthefamily.

“Idon’tthinkthereisadistinctionforMonaintermsofthenuclearandtheextendedfamily.Theyareonebigfamilyandshehastolookafterthem.”

WhatisNextOfKinabout?

“Forme,thecentre ofthedramaisaboutthisveryclose-knitmoderndayBritishfamily.They’reveryhappy,livinganormallifeandcontentwithit.Thenthenewsturnseachoneoftheirlivesupsidedownandoneoftheyoungestmembersofthefamily,Danny,issuspectedofbeingradicalised.

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“ThestoryfollowsMona’sfighttoprovehernephew’sinnocence,whilstatthesametimetryingtokeepthefamilyunitintactbecausethoserelationshipscomeunderimmensestrain.It’sprobablythemostemotionallychallengingmomentofMona’slifehavingtodealwithitall.”

“Oneofthegreatthemesofthestoryisfamily,loveandloyalty.Itasksthequestion,‘Howfarwouldyougotoprotecttheonesyoulove?’Peoplewatchingwillaskthemselves,‘WhatwouldIdointhatsituation?Whatdecisionswouldyoumake?’ThedilemmaMonaisfacedwithinvolvesheartbreakinglydifficultdecisionsalongtheway.Eachofthosechoicesanddecisionsshemakeshasanimpactonamemberofherfamily,includingherrelationshipwithherhusbandGuy.

HowwouldyoudescribeMona’srelationshipwithherhusbandGuy?

“Monaisverytactilebutnotgoodatexpressingherselfverballyordiscussingproblems.SomethingGuyisverygoodat.Guyisveryhard-working,family-oriented,caring,loyal,supportive.Heisherrock.

“WhenyoufirstmeetMonaandGuyyoumightthinkmaybeculturallytheyarequitedifferent,buttheyhavemoreincommonthannot.Hermotherwouldhaveprobablywantedtomarryherofftoalocalbusinessmaninthecommunity,andI’msurehismotherwouldhavelikedtohaveseenhim

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marriedtosomebodyfromBerkshire.Butbothofthemhavecometorealisethereisaverysolidrelationshipthere.Overthecourseoftheserieswegettoseewhetherthatrelationshipisstrongenoughtosustainthestrainoftheeventsthataffectthefamily.”

MonahasanelderbrothercalledKareem.Aretheyclose?

“Monadefinitelyhasastrongerrelationshipwiththemeninherfamily.SheisveryclosetoKareem.Theybothwitnessedtheirparents’strugglesowerealotmoremotivatedtoworkharderandstudyandtheybothbecamedoctors.

“Thereisalotoflovebetweenthem.Theywereverysupportiveofeachothergrowingup.Includingthecultureclashissuesintermsoftheirparentsbeingquiteeasternandthenhavingtoassimilateintoawesternsociety.Theyhelpedeachotheroutandwerethereforeachother.

“Outofallthesiblingsshe’sdefinitelyclosesttoKareembecauseoftheagesimilarity.AndhiseldestsonDanish,knownasDanny,wouldhavebeenthefirstborn,somethingverypreciousinthathousehold.Soshe’shadaverystrongrelationshipwithDannyfromthemomenthewasborn,andheisstillayoungkid.”

HowdoesDanny’sdisappearanceimpactonthefamily?

“Dannyissuspectedofbeingradicalisedandthereisthisbiginvestigationthatintensifiesoverthecourseoftheseries.It’sinterestingtoseehowitimpactseachoneoftheirlivesfordifferentreasons.Wedon’tevenknowwhetherhe’sradicalisedornot,butthemerefactheissuspectedaffectseachoneoftheirlives.Monacarriestheweightofthatmostbecauseshe’stheonefightingtoothandnailforhim.Andthatdoeshaveconsequencesforher.”

WhatcanyoutellusaboutMona’smotherMrs Shirani?Comingfromanoldergeneration,howdoesshereacttopresentdayevents?

“That’soneofthethingsIlikedaboutthescript.Thefamilyrepresentsthedifferentgenerations.SoyouhaveMona’smother,aswellasGuy’smother,beingquitetraditional.They’reobviouslyfromdifferentculturalbackgroundsbutstillquitetraditional.

“Idon’tthinktheynecessarilyapprovedofthemixedmarriagewhenMonaandGuygottogether.Andthenyou’vegotMonaandGuy’sgenerationwheretheculturalgapbetweenthemisalotsmallerthan,say,itwouldhavebeenintheseventiesoreighties.He’sgrownupbeingexposedtoawidercultureandMonahaslivedmostofherlifeinEngland.

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“Whatmakesitsopowerfulisthisisadramaultimatelyaboutafamily.Peoplewatchingwillaskthemselves,what

wouldIdointhatsituation?”

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“Monaandhermotherarenotverygoodattalkingaboutproblemsorissues,almostseeingitasaweakness.Theydon’topenupaboutthings,andIthinkthat’sareallycommonqualityoffirstgenerationAsiansandpossibleevensecondgeneration.Ifyoutalkaboutaproblemyou’reacceptingthereisaproblem,soit’sbettertojustgetup,dustthedirtoffyourshoulderandmoveon.Butthatdoesn’treallyhelp.”

Howimportantisittoyouthatpeopleofallrace,religionsandbackgroundsarerepresentedinTVandfilm?

“WhenIreadNextOfKin,IneverreallythoughtofitasbeingaMuslimfamily.GuyisEnglish,hersonisEnglish,MonaevencallsherselfEnglish.Hermotherisquitetraditional,theyoungerkidsarealotmore outspokenandmodern.Itjustfeelslikeamoderndayfamily,asopposedtoamoderndayBritishMuslimfamily.

“It’safamilythatisfun,loving,warmandaccessible.Theirethnicity,forme,doesn’treallycomeintoitall,whichIthinkisthewayforward.We’renotdenyingwhattheirreligiousbackgroundmaybe,butwe’renotnecessarilyhoninginonthat.They’rejustafamilylivinginEngland,affectedbyevents.”

AsadoctorMonawalkstowardsdangerwhileothersarerunningawayfromit.Whatwouldyousayaboutdoctors,nurses,paramedics,police,firecrewandotherswhodothatinreallife?

“OneofthethingsI’vealwaysstruggledwithinthisindustryistoanswerwhycelebritiesarelookeduponasheroes.Becausereallyit’speoplelikethatwhoaretheultimateheroes,aswesawinrecentevents.Theyaretherealheroesofoursociety.

“Somebodyaskedmetheotherday,‘Whatwouldyoudoifyouweren’tdoingthis?’AndIsaidmaybesomethinglikebeingaparamedic.Thefactyouhavetheabilitytosavelife,that’slikethemostpreciousgiftintheworld.WheneverIhearaboutthosejobsorseepeopledothem,I’malwaysinaweofthembecauseitissuchanincredibleskilltheyhave.”

AlthoughNextOfKindealswithaserioussubject,therearelightermoments.Whyisthatimportant?

“Therearesomanythingsgoingonintheworldrightnowandthisisaseriousdrama,butpeopleneedtohaveanelementofhumour.It’salsoverytruetolife.Inbadsituationsinlifethereisalwayshumour,particularlyfortheBritish.Ithinkit’sacopingmechanism.Beingironicorsarcasticisawayofdealingwithlife.Thosemomentsareimportanttohave.”

HowdoyoureflectbackonthemakingofNextOfKin?

“It’sbeenaveryexciting,educationalandchallengingexperienceforme.Playingaleadinadramawith

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suchasensitivesubjectmatter,butalsoacharacterthatgoesthroughareallybigemotionaljourney.It’swhatanyactorwouldlookforinaleadingrole.I’vereallyenjoyeditandbeeninvolvedinamuchbiggerwaythanIwouldbeonotherprojects.

“I’vealsolearnedalotaboutbeingontheothersideofthecamera,whichisultimatelywhatIwanttodo.Soit’sbeenaneducationfromthedayIwassentthescripttothefinalcut.That’sbeenexciting.It’sgivenmeaninsightintohowmuchworkgoesintomakingsomething.

“NextOfKinisfictitiousandtouchesuponasubjectwhichisverytimely,butitneverpretendsorattemptstoexplainitorunderstandit.It’sastrongaspectofthenarrativebutitneverreallyzoomsintryingtoshowthatitunderstandsitorwantstoexplainit.

“It’sabouttheimpactithasonthefamily,andIthinkthatwillprovokediscussion.It’sreflectingtheworldweliveintodayandithastobetalkedabout.Itisverydifficulttounderstandandcomprehend.Butwehavetotalkaboutit.”

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JACKDAVENPORTPLAYSGUYHARCOURT

WhatfirstattractedyoutoNextOfKin?

“Whetherwelikeitornot,thisisasubjectthatisn’tgoingaway.Itmakespeopleuncomfortableandreactive,andisdifficulttocomprehend.Yet,unlesswefindawaytocomeatitfromananglethatallowsustoevenbegintodothat,therepercussionsoftheseincidentswillgetmoreandmorepronounced.

“IwasverystruckfromthebeginningthatwritersPaulRutmanandNatashaNarayanhavefoundawaytolookatthissubjectbythinkingaboutthewiderhumanityoffamilieswhobecomeinvolvedsimplybecausetheyarerelatedtosomeonewhomayhavemadecertaindecisions.Thatstruckmeasaveryintelligentandinterestingwaytoapproachtheunapproachable.

“NextOfKinisafamilydramafirstwithapsychologicallyintenseconceptplaceduponit.That’swhatwefocuson.Thereisnootherwaytotryandbenotsympatheticbutempathetic.Theyareverydifferentthings.Hopefullythat’swhatpeoplewilltakeawayfromit.”

WhoisGuyHarcourt?

“GuyisaWestminsterpoliticallobbyistwhoworksforoneofthoselobbyingfirmswithfingersinallsortsofpies.InourstoryyouseehimworkingastheliaisonbetweentheBritishgovernmentandvariousformsofoutsideforeigninvestmentintobiginfrastructureprogrammes.”

GuyismarriedtoMonaandappearstobeverymuchpartofherbiggerfamily?

“Ithoughtitwasratherthrillingthatwhenwewereshootingscenesatthefamilyhome,Iwastheonlynon-Asiancharacter,whichIthoughtwasgreat,becausethisiswhatsomeofBritainlookslike.”

“Beingtheslightlystiff,publicschool,somewhatemotionallyconstipatedtypeofpersonhecouldbe,whatGuygetsisthisextendedverynon-HomeCountiesfamily.It’ssomethingsooutsideprobablyanyofhisexperiencesgrowingup,inmanywaysit’slikethemakingofhim.ItopensuppartsofhimselftohimselfthatI’mnotsureheevenknewwerethere.

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“Obviouslywhenthesituationstartstogobad,Guyandthefamilyfindthemselvesinalivingnightmare.ThewriterswereverysmartaboutshowingthewayGuyalmostunconsciouslyreacts.AndwheredoeshiswifeMona’sloyaltieslie?Theyhaveachildwhoisinnocentinallofthis.It’saveryinterestingtensiontoexplore.”

NextofKinisverytopicalandclosetosomerecentreallifeevents.Howdidthecastfeelaboutthat?

“Werespondedwithnomoreorlessdismayandalarmthananybodyelse.Thenafteracertainamountoftime,likeeveryoneelseinthecountry,yousay‘Wehavetocontinueasbefore.Getonwithlifeasusual.’Otherwisetheterroristshavesucceededonsomelevel.

“Sometimesmasscommunication,intheformofafictionaltelevisiondrama,isagoodwayofreachingalargenumberofpeopleinashortspaceoftimetopresentareallycomplicatedideainawaythatspeakstopeople’shearts.

“Soitjustmademethink,‘Ihopewedothisaswellasthewritingmakesmethinkwecould.’Otherthanthatthereactiontorecenteventsisthesame.There’snodifferencebetweenabusdriverinWidnes oranactorinsouthLondon.”

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“Whenwewereshootingscenesatthefamilyhome,Iwastheonlynon-Asiancharacter,whichIthoughtwasgreat,becausethisiswhatsomeofBritainlookslike.”

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EventhoughthesubjectmatterinNextOfKinisveryserious,therearelightermomentsofhumour.Whyaretheyimportant?

“Certainlyatthestart,wedidourbesttoshowthisfamilyasbeingwarmandsometimesquitesillywitheachother.That’swhat,inpart,anormalfamilylookslike.Untilthingsoutsideofitscontrolhappen.

“Thatwas,inmanyways,togivecontexttowhatgetsdamagedwhencertainmembersofafamilypossiblymakethedecisionstheydo.Hopefullytherewillbeanechointheaudience’smindofhowthefamilyusedtobe:anoisy,playfulgroupofpeoplejustgettingonwiththeirlives.”

WhatwasitlikeworkingwithArchiePanjabi?

“I’veknownofArchieforyearsandalwaysthoughtshewasamazing.Iknewfromthestartshewasplayingthisroleandthought,‘That’salottoaskofanyactor.’It’squiteajourneyshehastogoon.It’shardenoughforanactortobein95percentofthescenes,butitmakeseveryone’slifemuchmoreenjoyablewhentheyarealsojoyfullyandlightlythecaptainoftheshipinthatregard.Shesetthetone.

“There’salsothiswholegroupofamazingyoungBritishAsianactors.BecauseIhaven’tlivedintheUKforalongtimetheywereallchildrenwhenIleft.SoIhadn’tbeenawareofthembefore,andIwaslike,‘Theseguysaregood.’It’sbeenfuntobearoundalotofyoungactorsI’dnevermetbefore.

“ThenShabana Azmi,whoplaysmymother-in-lawMrs Shirani,therearen’tthatmanyactorsintheworldifyoulookattheirIMDbpage,she’sbeeninsomethinglike175films.Sheisalegend.It’salwayskindofcooltobearoundsomeonewhohasjustdoneeverythinginafilmworldyoudon’tknowthatmuchabout.”

DidNextOfKinrevealmoreaboutthisissuetoyouthanyouknewbefore?

“Idefinitelyhadanawarenessthatthevictimsinthesesituationstendtobeawiderpoolofpeoplethanyoumightinitiallythink.Buthavingbeenpartofmakingadrama,thankfully,andnotinvolvedinarealway,IdofeelIhaveadeeperunderstanding.

“Iabhorreactionarypolitics,butIsupposeInowfeelbetterequippedtoargueagainstthereactionarypositionthatsituationslikethiscan,understandably,provokeinpeople.”

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SHABANAAZMIPLAYSMRS.SHIRANI

Howdidtherolecomeabout?

“IjusthappenedtobeinLondonatthetimewhenmyagenttoldmeaboutthepart.ImetthedirectorJustinChadwickandbeforeIknewit,Iwaspartoftheproduction.ItookanimmediatelikingtoJustinso,knowingwhatthedramawasabout,itwasaprettyeasydecisionformetomake.”

YouareknownforIndianfilmsamongmanyotherthings.HaveyoualsoworkedintheUKbefore?

“I’veworkedonalotoffilmsinBritain.ThefirsttimeIworkedintheUKwasasfarbackas1988oppositeShirleyMacLaineinafilmcalledMadameSousatzka directedbyJohnSchlesinger.I’vealsodonefilmsforBBC,includingCapital,andChannel4plustheatre.”

WhatattractedyoutoNextofKin?

“IthoughtitwasaveryimportantstoryandIlikedmypart.Mrs Shirani isaveryfeistywomanandyetquitegentle.Iinitiallyreadthefirstthreeepisodesveryquickly.Ifounditaveryinterestingstory.

“ItwasaverypleasurableexperiencebecauseIgotonverywellwiththedirectorJustin.He,himself,wasanactorandheisveryrespectfultoactorsandworksverycloselywiththem.Hetookhistimeandwaiteduntilhegotexactlywhathewanted.Hewasveryencouraging.

“IalsogotalongextremelywellwithArchiePanjabi,JackDavenportandtherestofthecast.Itveryquicklybecamelikearealfamily.

“ThewholeexperiencewasalsodifferentbecauseIwaslivingonmyowninLondon.WhenI’minIndiaworkingIhaveahugestaffthatfollowsmearoundeverywhere.Ihavemyownhairdresser,make-upperson,mymanager,mydriveralltravelwithme.ButIwasliterallyonmyowninLondon.Thatexperiencewasveryprecious.

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WhoisMrs Shirani?

“WhatisniceaboutMrs Shirani isthatononelevelyouwouldthinksheisthestereotypicalAsianmother,butyou,infact,discoversheisnotso.Shehasapersonalitywhichisverymuchherownandisaveryimportantfigureinthehouse.

“Thefirsttimeweseeherisamilliondollarscene.Theliftdooropensandsheissatontheflooroftheelevator.Whichisanamazingvisualtobeginwith.I’veneverbeentrappedinaliftforreal,butifIamevernowitwillnotbesuchaterrifyingexperience.

“Shegrumbles,disapprovesandhasherfamilyfavourites,butshereallyisthepersonwhopullsthefamilytogether.Sheisabeliever.Shesaysherprayers.Andyetsheisfarremovedfromthiscrazyworldoffundamentalism.”

Whyisthisanimportantstorytotell?

“Thisstoryissoclosetohome.Ithinkit’sveryimportantforcinema,television,theatre,literature,arttoreflectthat.Youcan’tpushconflictsofthiskindunderthecarpet.Thisdramashowswhathappenstohumanbeingsinthesekindsofsituations.

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“Thisstoryissoclosetohome.Ithinkit’sveryimportantforcinema,television,theatre,literature,arttoreflectthat.Youcan’tpushconflictsofthiskindunderthecarpet.Thisdramashowswhathappenstohumanbeingsinthesekindsofsituations.”

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Doesthisdramalookbeyondtheheadlines?

“Weseethehumansideofhowtheperceptionofradicalisation touchesafamily;torturesafamilywhentheyareinnowayresponsibleforit.Andthenyouseethelargerpicturethroughthesmallerpicture.Thathumanises it.It’snotdoneinadidactic,propagandistway.Itisdonethroughrelationshipsandemotionalconnectionswhicharecompletelyuniversal.

“Islamophobiaisspreadingsowidelyintheworld.Youneedtogiveitahumanfaceandtrytounderstandwhataretheforcesthatareworkingandhowitimpactsonpeople.Artmustreflectthat.

“I’mveryproudofITVforproducingthisdrama.ThetimehascomewhenweneedtoworktounderstandcultureswithintheirownparadigmsratherthanyardsticksoftheWestimposedontheEast.That’sveryimportant,becauseastheworldshrinksandbecomesaglobalvillage,it’sveryimportanttounderstandeachother’scultures.

“Thereisstillalotthatneedstobedoneintermsofthevariouscommunitiesbeingrepresentedinthemedia,anddemonstratinghowsimilarhumanbeingsare.Embracingofmulti-culturalismandanattempttounderstandcultureswithintheirownparadigms. Lookatthewarmth,allthequirks,thestupidities.Lookatthemasrealpeople.ThatisimportantandthatiswhyIcongratulateITVforthis.”

Whatareyourownviewsonreligiousextremism?

“Whatisveryimportantisweneedtounderstandtheseschismsarenotschismsofreligionastheyareprojected.Theyareschismsofideology.Soitisthetolerantliberalononesideagainsttheintolerantradicalisedoftheother.

“It’snotChristiansversusMuslims.It’snotHinduversusMuslims.ItisaboutHindus,Muslims,ChristiansonthesamesideagainsttheHindu,Muslim,Christianfundamentalistsoftheother.

“Itisoneofideologyandofworldviewoftoleranceandintolerance.It’sveryimportanttoseethat.Otherwisewealwaysfallintosayingitisacivilisationalwar.”

Arepoliticalleadersinthewestandeastbeinghonestaboutwhatneedstobedone?

“No,ofcoursenot.It’snotinthenatureofelectoralpoliticstobecompletelyhonestaboutit.Butartmustdomorethanthat.Artshouldbeabletoprovideamorecomplex,morehumanandsensitiveversionofit.

“In2001afterthe9/11attackstheBookerPrizewinnerArundhatiRoywroteanessayinwhichshesaid,‘Box-cutters,penknives,andcoldangeraretheweaponswithwhichthewarsofthenew

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centurywillbewaged.Angeristhelockpick.Itslipsthroughcustomsunnoticed.Doesn'tshowupinbaggagechecks.’Ithinkthatissuchanamazing,stunningline.”

“Surelywehavetofinddifferentwaysofdealingwithterror?Becausewhateverthesystemsbywhichwearecombattingittodaydon’tappeartobeworking.Wehavetofindwaystodealwithit.I’mnotsayingIhavetheanswers.It’snoteasy.ButIdon’tthinkdialogueshouldeverstop.”

Doyouthinkpeopleofallraces,religionsandbackgroundsarefairlyrepresentedinWesternTVandfilm?

“Alotmoreneedstobedone.Wereallyareaglobalvillagetodayandwearelivinginamulticulturalworld.Pluralismisthecalloftheday.Actorshavebeensayingforalongtimethatweneedtohavecolour blindcasting,butlookatthebattlethatithastaken.InHollywood,forinstance,blackpeoplehaveonlyjuststartedbecomingwidelyvisible.ThefactisthatAsiansshouldbemorestronglyrepresentedbecausetheyareaverystrongpartofthecommunity.

WhyshouldwewatchNextofKin?

“Watchitbecauseit’sahumanstoryandit’sinteresting.Fornootherreason.Itisastoryaboutafamilywhichhasuniversalresonance.IthinkNextofKinisanextremelyimportantseries.”

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VIVEIKKALRAPLAYSDANNYSHIRANI

Howdidtherolecomeabout?

“I’mastudentattheRoyalWelshCollegeofDramaandhadn’tdoneanyfilmorTVbeforeNextofKin.SothisismyfirstTVjob.Isentinatapeandwastheninvitedtoaudition.ThenIauditionedagainandgotthepart.Whichwasamazing.Madlyexciting.”

WhoisDanny?

“He’sanathleticyoungmanatuniversitypursuingsports.ThesonofKareemShirani fromKareem’spreviousmarriage.Hismotherhasdied,sohe’spartoftheextendedfamilybutthereisafeelingofseparationfromthatfamily.”

WhatisNextofKinabout?

“Dannyisayoungmanwhomay,ormaynot,havebeenradicalised.Thesubjectmatterisimportantandneedstobetalkedabout.Youhavetoapproachitwithagreatdealofsensitivity.ThewritersPaulRutmanandNatashaNarayanhavedealtwiththatreallybeautifully.Thescriptsaresowellwritten.”

Didyougainaninsightintohowyoungpeoplecanfindthemselvesinthissituation?

“TheveryfirstthingIdidwassitdownwiththedirectorJustinChadwick,ArchiePanjabi,whoplaysMonaHarcourt,andaculturaladvisor.Wehadadiscussionfortwohoursabouthowthingslikethiscancomeaboutinyoungpeople’slives.

“WhetherDannyisradicalisedornotisrevealedintheseries.But,forme,itwasanimportantissuetotackle.Heisveryyoungbutnotbyanymeansstupidorunintelligent.Ingeneralterms,it’sscarythethingspeoplecanbedrawnto.”

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WhatimpactdoesDanny’sdisappearancehaveonhisfamily?

“Thedramashowstheimpactsomethinglikethiscanhaveonafamily.Onthenewsyouseeaheadlinebutyoudon’tseetheimpactonafamily.Attheheartofthisstoryisanordinary,normal,modernBritish-Pakistanifamilythrustintothiswhirlwindofalmostinsanity.Andweseehowordinarypeopledealwithextraordinarycircumstances.

“Ourstoryisfiction.ButIliketorefertoitasafictionalised reality,because,asweallknow,thesethingsarehappeningintherealworld.It’sanimportantandrelevantthingthatneedstobeairedanddiscussed.”

Whateverdecisionayoungpersonmakes,cantheyenduptrapped?

“Ayoungpersoncanmakeonedecisionandthenfindthemselvesknee-deepinsomethingtheyneverimaginedorthoughtaboutbeingapartof.

“Icouldtotallyunderstandhowpeoplecanfindthemselvesinthatposition.It’sascarysituation,bothforDannyandthewholefamily.Theyhavetobeartheweightofthethingsthathappen.”

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Didyoufeeltheneedtodoanyofyourownresearch?

“Asidefromthescripts,IdiddomyownresearchforthischaracterbecauseIwantedtoconveyasaccuratelyasIcouldwhatheislike– heisarealhumanbeing.Asaresult,IwasabletobemorespecificabouthowDannywouldthinkandact.”

Wereyousurprisedaboutthewaytechnologycanbeusedtofollowanindividualacrosstheglobe?

“Iwasawareofhowtechnologycanbeusedtotrackpeoplewherevertheyare,buttheextentofitisquitescary.Eventhethingsyoucanfindonlinenow.Justbyinvestigatingsocialmediayoucanfindoutahugeamountofinformationaboutpeople.”

TherearelightermomentsinNextofKin.Whyaretheyimportant?

“Thelightermomentsgivemoredepthandtexturetotheserious,weightierscenes.It’snecessarybecauseyouneedthatlightandshade.Someoftheeventsinthisworldarebeyondthewildestimaginationsofmostnormalindividuals.Soyouneedthoselightertouches.”

HowdoyoureflectonyourfirstTVrole?

“Itwasgreatfun.WhenIgotthereIjustthought,‘Wow,thisisanincredibleopportunity.’Toworkwithsuchatalentedcast,includingArchiePanjabiandJackDavenport.Theentiredramahasbeencastsoperfectlyandtheywerejustapleasuretoworkwith.AtnopointdidIfeeloverwhelmedoruncomfortable.

“ThedirectorJustinChadwickwasalsoamazing.Hewasverythoughtfulandwasonceanactorhimself.Youreallyfeltheunderstoodyourcharacter.HefeltthestruggleofwhatDannywasgoingthrough.

“WorkingwithArchiewasalsoamazing.Shewasarealmentor.Obviouslysuperexperienced.It’soddtowatchsomeoneonTVwhoissogoodandthenthenextthingyouareworkingwiththem.”

Whatwasitlikegoingbacktodramaschoolafterfilming?

“I’vegotjustoverayearofmycoursetogo.Itwasweirdgoingbackatfirst.ThefirstdayfeltabitoddbutI’mverygladtobeback.

“IlearnedsomuchonNextofKinandmadereallygoodfriends.It’saprivilegetobeinvolvedinsomethingthatis,Ithink,soimportant.There’ssomethingreallyspecialaboutthisdrama.”

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CLAIRESKINNERPLAYSDCIVIVIENBARNES

WhatattractedyoutoNextofKin?

“Itwasthecharacter.It’salwaysnicetoplayawomaninchargeandinapowerfulrole.She’snotahugelyoutwardlysympathetictypeofcharacter.Iveerbetweenplayingveryexpressivepeopleandimplacablepeople.Idoseemtoplayoneortheother.Afterdoingcomedy,it’squitenicetoplaysomeonethat’sholdingalotofstrategyinherhead.Ienjoyedthat.”

Didyoudoanyofyourownresearch?

“Ilookedattheresearchavailabletomewithintheproduction.Theyhadtheirownpoliceandanti-terroradvisors.SoIusedthoseresources.”

WhatchallengesdoesVivienBarnesfaceinleadingthepolicecounterterroroperation?

“Shehassomanythingstobalance.Icannotimaginehavingtobesointernalwithyourthoughtprocesses.Therealsomustbealotofdistrust.Especiallywhenitcomestopoliticians,strategicleaksandleaksmadebymistake.Thereissomuchtoconsider.Itmustbeexhausting.Vivienhastotakecalculatedrisksanddoesn’talwaysgeteverythingright.”

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Weonlyhearaboutsomeoftheterrorattacksstoppedbyourpoliceandsecurityservices.Whatareyourthoughtsaboutthat?

“Thefiguresonthenumberofattacksthepoliceandsecurityservicesstoparesobering.Butweareonlytoldaboutafewofthose.And,ofcourse,asweknowtheycan’tstopeverything.

“It’sdifficulttoimaginehowsomeonelikeViviendealswiththehugeresponsibilitiesinvolved.Havingtomakelifeanddeathdecisions.Youseeamorehumansidetoherasthingsunfold.”

Thedramafeelsverytopical.Doyouagree?

“Thescriptwasveryprescientintermsofcurrentevents.Thedramadoesnotcommentonanythingbutitdoesreflecttheatmospherewe’relivingintoday.

“AsLondoners,youlearnhowtolivewithit.IrememberduringthedaysoftheIRAthreatwhentheychangedthebinsontheLondonUndergroundtoseethroughbags.Youthinkyou’rehardenedtoitbutperhapsnot.”

NextofKinshinesalightonafamily.WhyisthisanimportantstorytotellinaTVdrama?

“Thedomesticangleofthisstoryallowsustoseetheconsequencesforasinglefamily.It’saveryusefulwayintothewiderissues.Thatdomesticprisminvolvesusthinkingaboutmothers,brothers,daughters.Ithinkthat’swhenpeoplestarttounderstandthings.”

HowwouldyoudescribeVivien’srelationshipwithGuyHarcourt,playedbyJackDavenport?

“ShehasapersonalrelationshipwithGuywhichshehastomanage.

“Shetriestohelphimasmuchasshecan,butthenshecanbequitetoughwhensheknowsshehastobe.Shehastostepoutsideherofficialboxsometimeswithhim.”

Doestherehavetobeanelementofruthlessness,aswellassecrecy,inthejobshedoes?

“Iwouldimagineyouhavenochoicebuttobetough.Youwouldhavetoberuthlessattimes.Andhowwouldyouliveanoutsidelife?I’msurepeopleinthesejobsdo,butit’snotasifyoucangohomeandtalkaboutwhathappenedinyourday.

“Icouldn’tbearthat.IwouldneedeveryonetoknowallthefabulousthingsI’vebeendoing.Butthat’swhyI’manactor,Iguess!”

Doyouthinkpeoplearefullyawareofjusthowcloselytheyaremonitoredtoday?

“It’ssuchaweirdparadox.Peopleareawareofhowmuchtheyaremonitored,buttheyjustdon’tseemtovaluetheirprivacyatall.

“WearetrackedbyCCTVcamerasalmosteverywherewego.That’sextraordinary.Wejustacceptthat.Thesamewithallofthedetailswehandoverforonlineshopping.It’slikeatradeoff.It’sforexpedience.Wejustwantsomethingnow,straightawayandwillgiveallofourdetailstogetit.”

What’snext?

“I’mplayingMrs Sedley,Amelia’smother,inthenewITVadaptationofVanityFair,whichhasanotheramazingcast.”

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EpisodeOne

OnthesamedaythataterroristattackbringsLondontoastandstill,GPMonaHarcourtreceivesthedevastatingnewsthatherbrotherKareemhasbeenkidnappedonhiswayhometotheUKfromhischarityclinicinLahore.

Monaandherfamily’shorroris aggravatedbytheattentionsofthepolicecounterterrorismunitandtheirinterestinKareem’steenagesonDanny.Dannyhasnotbeenseenatuniversityforsixweeks,andMonaisdeterminedtofindhimbeforethepolicedo.

EPISODE SYNOPSES

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MonaHarcourt ARCHIEPANJABI

GuyHarcourt JACKDAVENPORT

Mrs Shirani SHABANAAZMI

DannyShirani VIVEIKKALRA

Kareem Shirani NAVINCHOWDRY

Sammi Shirani DANTEPATEL

Rahana Shirani FARZANADUAELAHE

AniShirani KIRANSONIASAWAR

OmarShirani MAWAANRIZWAN

ElspethHarcourt JANFRANCIS

ACCVivienBarnes CLAIRESKINNER

Detective Townsend ENZOCILENTI

Saira Shirani SHANTIDEEN-ELLIS

TakTakShirani RITIKHARIWAL

DSStanleyHart SOPEDIRISU

Shania SHALISHAJAMES-DAVIS

CraigKowalski HALFOWLER

ImogenKowalski HANNAHBOURNE

RichardPayne DOMINICTIGHE

Hamoud ELLIEHADDAD

SheikhAlmasi MUNIRKHAIRDIN

Khan WAHEBSHEIKH

MrKhalid NASSERMEMARZIA

Carla LOLAPETTICREW

Simon CHRISLARKIN

Preacher WASIMZAKIR

Sarah KYLIEHUTCHINSON

AnnabelGhillies DOROTHYATKINSON

AbuMaaz JOEBLAKEMORE

MrPearson SIMONTREVES

Fatima MYRIAMARCHARKI

CASTCREDITS

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Creator,Writer&ExecutiveProducer PAULRUTMAN

Creator,Writer&ExecutiveProducer NATASHANARAYAN

MDofMammothScreen/ExecutiveProducer DAMIENTIMMER

ExecutiveProducer PREETHIMAVAHALLI

Director (Block1)&ExecutiveProducer JUSTINCHADWICK

Producer REBECCAFERGUSON

Director(Block2) JAMIECHILDS

DirectorofPhotography PAULDONACHIE

ProductionDesigner DICKLUNN

ArtDirector (UK) ANDREAMATHESON

ArtDirector (India) SAMHARLEY

CostumerDesigner EMMAFRYER

MakeUpDesigner JENNAWRAGE

LocationManager(Block1) GRANTCUMMINGS

LocationManager(Block2) TONYHOOD

SoundRecordist WILLIAMWHALE

CastingDirector SAMJONES

Editor HAZELBAILLIE

ScriptEditor PAULTESTAR

PRODUCTION CREDITS

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