Achi news desk-
Located in the Outer Hebrides, The Island (The Island) is billed as “a compelling crime story that follows a family caught up in a murder investigation very close to home”.
As filming begins on Harris, BBC ALBA has confirmed that acclaimed Scottish actor Sorcha Groundsell is taking the lead role in the series.
Sorcha Groundsell speaks Gaelic (His Dark Materials, Clique, Shetland and Netflix’s The Innocents) plays PC Kat Crichton, a police family liaison officer who returns to her home island as part of the investigation into a brutal and unexplained murder.
READ MORE: BBC ALBA announces the first high quality Gaelic drama series – with a budget of £1m per episode
Brought up in Ness on Lewis, Sorcha moved to Glasgow aged nine to attend Glasgow Gaelic School. She took drama classes at the Citizens Theater and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before moving to London to pursue her acting career. Sorcha debuted in the US in 2018 with her starring role in the Netflix sci-fi series The Innocents.
Sorcha Groundsell said: “I’m delighted to be part of this amazing series and it’s an honor to take part in breaking new ground for the Gàidhlig language.
“I have been hoping to find an opportunity to bring this element of my personal life, which means so much to me, into my professional work. I cannot think of a better project than The Island (The Island) to do that.
“This show feels like a critical opportunity for us to be able to share the language, culture and scenery we love so much with the wider world.”
Iain Macrae (Bannan, Outlander a Crowd and Cream) is confirmed to play self-made millionaire Sir Douglas MacLean, while Sagar Radia (Industry, The Good Karma Hospital a Unicorns) plays the lead police investigator, DCI Ahmed Halim.
The dysfunctional Maclean siblings will be played by Sinead Macinnes (Outlander a A90), and Skye-born actors Meredith Brook (Bonds) and Sam James Smith (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Faustus: That Damned Woman).
Meanwhile, in his first ever TV role, Andrew Macinnes from Ynys Lewis has been confirmed as the eldest son of Sir Douglas and the black sheep of the family, Calum.
Edinburgh actor, writer and filmmaker Elspeth Turner (Riptides a Marram) portrays Sir Douglas’s murdered wife, Mary. Also appearing in supporting roles will be well-known actor from South Uist, David Walker (Mara: The Seal Wife, An Clò Mòr a Bonds), Lewis-born Tormod Macleod and Carina Macleod, and exciting newcomer Sharyn Ferguson.
The spectacular Amhuinnsuidhe Castle in Harris will be the main location with filming also taking place across Harris, Lewis and Glasgow.
Arabella Page Croft, executive producer Black Camel Pictures, producers The Island (The Island)He said,: “We love working with Sorcha and the rest of the talent The Island (The Island) cast on this exciting new drama series.
READ MORE: Netflix announces three new drama series to be filmed in Scotland this year
“Filled with complex and thought-provoking characters, and set against the stunning landscape of the Heath Islands, we can’t wait for viewers at home and abroad to be swept away by what we hope is an ambitious crime thriller it has to be seen.”
BBC ALBA announced the ground-breaking project last month as the biggest Gaelic drama series in the broadcaster’s history, which will reach international screens in 2025 with support from global distributor All3Media International.
David Swetman of All3Media International said: “We are delighted to be working with Black Camel Pictures and BBC ALBA on this gripping crime thriller. This is our first Gaelic project and we are excited to bring the unique and dramatic Hebridean culture, language and landscape to a global audience.”
Co-written by screenwriter/creator Nicholas Osborne (producer of remember me a License to Wednesday) and the screenwriter, Patsi Mackenzie (Organs a An Clò Mòr), and directed by Tom Sullivan (A monster), The Island (The Island) sees four troubled siblings gather at their family home in the Outer Hebrides as their father is questioned about their mother’s mysterious death.
With the cast confirmed and filming now underway, BBC ALBA Commissioning Commissioner Bill Macleod added: “We have brought together an incredible cast of fantastic actors for this ground-breaking project. With the stunning Isle of Harris as our location, The Island (The Island) brings Gaelic language, culture and storytelling to audiences around the world.”
