The Night Caller is the latest drama from Channel 5. The tense stalking thriller sees Robert Glenister, known for Hustle, Spooks, and Sherwood, take on the role of taxi driver Tony, who has an unhealthy obsession.
Tony, a cab driver from Liverpool, used to be a respected teacher but lost his job, confidence and marriage. His only lifelines are cafe-worker Rosa, played by Casualty’s Suzanne Packer, whom he forms a growing attachment to, and a late-night radio talk-show host called Lawrence, portrayed by Sean Pertwee, known for You and Gotham, who he spends his nights listening to as he ferries passengers across the city.
The Night Caller, which has been dubbed as a “claustrophobic tale about the power of influence those with the loudest voice have over the most vulnerable people,” will follow Tony as he plucks up the courage to ring Lawrence on air and, for the first time in years, feels listened to.
READ MORE: BBC shares first look at brand new psychological drama with star-studded cast list
LATEST: Jenna Coleman’s new BBC drama The Jetty release date and full cast list announced
But, as time passes, he starts to interpret Lawrence’s “worldview” in dangerous ways. The relationship grows into an unhealthy obsession for Tony, until he comes to the realisation that the real Lawrence isn’t the man he purports to be.
Speaking about his role as Tony, Robert said: “I was really intrigued by Tony and wondered why this man is the way he is. This is the story of a man who has suffered a major trauma that nobody knows about, plus he’s lost his job as a teacher.
Robert Glenister in Channel 5’s The Night Caller (Image:
Channel 5)
“He has chosen to work nights and when we meet him he’s at a very low ebb. He feels like he has been thrown on the scrapheap and then he finds solace talking to the presenter of a late-night radio talk show, who gets inside his head. And then it all goes Pete Tong!”
Promoted Stories
He added: “It was a bit daunting as a job because Tony is in every scene! But I also like the fact that the series starts as a thriller, and then becomes something far more involved, far more complicated and human. If the audience makes a decision about what the show is by the end of episode one they should keep watching, because the chances are the series is not what they think it is…”
When does The Night Caller start on Channel 5?
The Night Caller starts on Sunday, July 7. Viewers can tune into Channel 5 from 9pm to watch the first hour-long episode.
Fans will then be able to watch the show back to back over the next four consecutive nights as it airs in the 9pm slot from Sunday, July 7 until Wednesday, July 10.
