Paddy Considine travels back in time once again this weekend as Jack Whicher, the pioneering detective of the 19th century that first came on to our screens two years ago and sees the return of one of the best actors currently working in the British Isles.
Considine for some time has been considered one of the finest acting talents in Britain, but his is a face that we’ve grown much more accustomed too on the big screen rather than the small. In fact, this is the only the third role that Considine has played on TV so far, and thank goodness that 2011’s first screen showing for Kate Summerscale’s detective isn’t going to be the last.
This Sunday’s adventure is made all the better by the presence of everyone’s new favourite actress Olivia Colman. Seemingly trying to appear in every single TV show this year, Colman and Considine is match made in heaven. Even she though can’t quite steal the spotlight completely from Considine, who from genre to genre remains one of the most subtle and engaging screen presences out there right now.
From dark drama and ultra-realistic portrayals of loss and isolation to the mucking about with Simon Pegg at any given opportunity (including the bonkers looking At World's End), Considine remains magnetic throughout. Even when he’s putting on a thick New York accent in Cinderella Man or only on screen for a elongated cameo like in The Bourne Ultimatum, Considine demands your attention.
Despite him having never put a foot wrong when it comes to performance, it’s Dead Man’s Shoes that still stands as the finest work he’s done so far. Filled with menace and raw emotion, it was the role that saw Considine instantly go onto the list of hottest talents around and got him several award nominations.
It’s not even just in front of the camera that he wants to show us that he’s one of the best around, as back in 2011, he sat down in the director’s chair for the first time to give us the gritty and draining Tyrannosaur (those are positive descriptions by the way). For a directing debut, not only was the film a clear vision of creative intent, but also incredibly assured and confident. Netting him both a BAFTA and a British Independent Film Award, Tyannosaur could just be the start of another exciting phase of his career.
No matter what the film or TV show is, if you see Considine’s name above the title, you know that you’re in for a stellar performance from Burton upon Trent’s finest. And in years when even legends like Pacino and De Niro have been inconsistent, his almost guaranteed d brilliance stands out even more.
Are you excited about the return of the brilliant Considine to British TV? Let us know in the comments.
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: The Murder In Angel Lane is on Sunday at 8pm on ITV.
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