The INSIDE MAN

STEPHEN GRAHAM and screenwriter JEFF POPE on their true-crime drama about a foiled plot to murder an MP

- SEAN MARLAND

MATTHEW COLLINS STEPHEN GRAHAM While attempting to prevent the radicalisation of young white men by running moles, or walk-ins, in far-right organisations, the former extremist uncovers a chilling plan to murder an MP.

THE WALK-IN MONDAY, 9PM, ITV DRAMA (BOX SET, ITV HUB)

Stephen Graham has never shied away from a challenging role. But now the acclaimed actor (The Virtues, Time, Help) takes on one of his most difficult yet as he stars in ITV’s new true-crime drama, The Walk-in.

Reuniting with triple BAFTAwinning screenwriter Jeff Pope, who he previously worked with on ITV’s harrowing factual drama Little Boy Blue in 2017, Stephen plays activist Matthew Collins, a reformed neo-Nazi who infiltrates a racist group to foil their plot to murder an MP.

The five-parter opens in 2015 and finds Matthew working as a journalist for the anti-racism organisation Hope Not Hate. Meanwhile, a disillusioned young man, Robbie Mullen (played by Andrew Ellis), is being drawn into the dark world of far-right terror group National Action, whose plans to trigger a race war are galvanised by the 2016 murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Here, Stephen, 49, and Jeff, who turns 61 on 2 October, give us their take on the series…

Jeff, what was it in particular about this real-life story that struck you as the basis for a drama series?