“A
dedicated feisty female detective
with a troubled family background has
a secret that could jeopardise her
career; but it is a risk she is willing
to take, even putting her life in danger
to uncover the murderer of her
schoolfriend’s drug-trafficking, corrupt
businessman father in the exciting
and compulsive series The Level...” HAVING BEEN BROUGHT UP BY alcoholic ex-policeman father Gill (Gary Lewis:
Outlander; Silent Witness) and fragile mother Teresa (Suzanne Packer),
Detective Sergeant Nancy Devlin (Karla Crome: Prisoners' Wives; Murder)
puts her murky, disturbed past behind her and plays it straight down the line
as far as she can, earning herself a merit for outstanding bravery in the line
of duty.
A dedicated officer with a spotless record, she nevertheless has an attachment
to drugs trafficker and corrupt haulage company owner Frank Le Saux (Philip
Glenister: Prey; Ashes to Ashes) — a link that she is not prepared
to sever under any circumstances and that is to lead to her putting both her
career and her life at risk.
“An
absolutely brilliant
piece of crime drama
served on a bed
of secrets and lies,
The Level
keeps you guessing...”
When
Frank Le Saux is murdered during a meeting with Nancy and she is shot, the father
figure she valued is gone before her eyes and she has become traumatised and
vulnerable. She is forced to cover up her injury in order to hide her involvement
with Frank and protect her secret. But somebody is not going to let her off
lightly.
Nancy's mother is in a psychiatric unit in London and when Nancy is asked to
help East Sussex Homicide to investigate Frank's murder she returns to Brighton
where she finds herself drawn deeper into her double life than she had ever
thought possible.
Moving back into her father's home, Nancy reconnects with Frank's newly-divorced
daughter Hayley Svrcek (Laura Haddock: Guardians of the Galaxy; The Inbetweeners
Movie) and his defensive widow Cherie (Amanda Burton: Waterloo Road;
Silent Witness).
She throws herself into the investigation, questioning Hayley's brother Tate
(Cian Binchy), who has learning difficulties and a development disorder and
is in a home for supported living, who may have some information about Darryl
Quinn (Lorne MacFadyen), who used to drive for Frank and knew Tate well.
Unsurprisingly, Nancy's love life is as complicated as her background; with
colleague DS Kevin O'Dowd (Robert James Collier: Downton Abbey; Coronation
Street) reluctant to get too involved with someone who seems confused about
what she wants. But will he and dishy new colleague Sean "Gunner" Martin (Noel
Clarke: Brotherhood; Dr Who) cover for her unconditionally?
Unsure if she can confide in anyone, Nancy begins to work secretly; but finds
herself under the scrutiny of her boss, DCI Michelle Newman (Lindsey Coulson:
Eastenders; Casualty). Now Nancy is being stalked by someone who knows
just a little too much and she is in grave danger.
Not knowing who she can trust, she has nobody to turn to. The killer could come
from any of Frank's worlds; either someone he has crossed in a business deal
or someone involved with drugs. How does Delia Bradley (Kelly Harrison), a customs
officer who works out of Newhaven, connect to Frank?
Nancy's former boyfriend Shay Nash (Joe Absolom: Doc Martin; Eastenders),
who blighted Nancy's youth and had goods destined for his supposed medical supply
company on one of Frank's lorries that has gone missing, may have been pushed
hard enough by Frank to finish him off for good. Frank's money man, the sinister
Theo Kettler (Rupert Proctor), would have known about the businessman's dealings
and may have his own agenda.
Finally evidence is recovered at the scene of the crime that could link Nancy
to the murder. Then another killing, apparently involving the missing Le Saux
lorry, throws more questions into the mix, and what is the "gold mine" that
Frank promised his family?
And then Nancy makes a shocking discovery…
Set against a backdrop of Brighton with its sad skeletal remains of the beautiful
West Pier, the ITV six-part series The Level is a gripping detective
thriller at its best. On the light side but an absolutely brilliant piece of
crime drama served on a bed of secrets and lies, The Level keeps you
guessing to the final episode as a likeable female detective tries to track
down a murderer before he finds her.
The Level also features: Geoff Bell as Duncan Elliot; Ruth Madeley (Fresh
Meat; BAFTA-nominated for Don't Take My Baby) as secretary Julie;
Grace Pennington as Romany Svrcek; and Alfie Pennington as Thane Svrcek.
Composer is Jack Arnold; Director of Photography is Ben Wheeler; Created and
Written by Gaby Chiappe (Vera; Lark Rise to Candleford) and Alexander
Perrin (Leonardo; Shetland); Producer is Jane Dauncey; Produced by BAFTA
winning Hillbilly Television (Downton Abbey; Second Coming); and Directed
by Mark Everest and Andy Goddard.
*
Described
as unmissable British drama at its most enthralling, The Level is released
by RJL Entertainment on DVD in the UK, on 14 November 2016. Certificate: 15
| Running Time: 300 Minutes Approximately on 2 Discs | Catalogue Number: AV3311
| RRP: £24.99.
"An absolutely brilliant piece of crime drama served on a bed of secrets and
lies, The Level keeps you guessing" ~ Maggie Woods
“A
dedicated feisty female detective