It’s all high-stakes drama and no delayed services in the latest BBC drama.
Nightsleeper is set to do for train travel what recent transport thrillers Hijack and Red Eye have done for aviation – ie: scare people into never leaving their homes, all in the name of entertainment.
With an all-star cast packed with familiar faces from Harry Potter, Peaky Blinders, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones and EastEnders, the real-time drama is pulling into screens tonight at 9pm.
Here’s all you need to know about Nightsleeper, where it was filmed, who is in the cast and how to watch all episodes.
What is Nightsleeper about?
Nightsleeper is set on an overnight train journey from Glasgow to London, with passengers and crew thrown into a nightmare as they become victims of a cyber terrorism plot and hijackers take remote control of the train.
Joe Roag (Joe Cole), an off-duty police officer who is travelling on the train, teams up with the acting technical director at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in a bid to stop the terrorists attempting to take control of the train.
With their attackers' identity a secret and a train full of passengers with potential motives, it’s a long journey for the detective and the experts attempting to literally bring a halt to the train.
Check out the trailer below for a taste of what’s in store.
Where was Nightsleeper filmed?
The series was shot in Scotland, with most of the action taking place in and around Glasgow during a three-month shoot that came to an end in July 2023.
Glasgow Central Station
Glasgow’s main train station was used as a primary filming location, with production taking over Central Station for a night shoot.
The very opening scenes of the series see off-duty policeman Joe walk through the busy station, heading for platform 10 to catch the overnight train to London Euston.
Pioneer Studios
Located just outside of Glasgow, Pioneer Studios is one of the largest film studios in Scotland. A handy asset when looking for a location big enough to house a life-size train set and gigantic video walls that made it look like the train is moving.
The set was so realistic that actors had to take motion sickness pills. ‘We were cooped up in these small carriages for 12 hours a day and they’d pre-recorded the entirety of the train journey exteriors from Aberdeen to London on LED screens, which were outside the train,’ explains star Joe Cole.
Is Nightsleeper based on a real train?
The traumatic events of Nightsleeper aren’t based on a true story, but viewers can take the same route from Glasgow to London on an overnight service.
The Caledonian Sleeper service runs from London Euston six days a week, with the accommodation options ranging from seats to private cabins.
Check out our review of the overnight train service from London to Inverness on what’s often called the real-life Hogwarts Express.
Who is in the Nightsleeper cast?
Joe Cole leads the cast of Nightsleeper as off-duty copper Joe Roag. The actor previously starred in Peaky Blinders as John Shelby, and went on to star in Gangs of London, The Ipcress Files and Black Mirror.
Alexandra Roach takes on the role of Abby Aysgarth, an employee of the NCSC and one of the first people alerted when fears of the attack begin to emerge. The actress has previously appeared in Channel 4 dramas Utopia and No Offence.
David Threlfall plays Paul Peveril, an eccentric former employee at the NCSC who is brought back into the fold for the crisis, but his return could cause major drama. David is best known for his time on Channel 4’s Shameless as Frank Gallagher.
Parth Thakerar plays Saj Sidhu, another of Abby’s colleagues at the NCSC, with the pair sharing a complicated past. Parth Thakerar has previously appeared in Sky comedy-drama Brassic and alongside co-star Joe Cole in Gangs of London.
Pamela Nomvete stars as Nicola, Abby’s boss. She has previously starred in Star Wars spin-off series Andor and Sky’s Gangs of London.
Ruth Madeley portrays Chrissy Doolan, a lawyer and passenger on the train. The actress recently made her Doctor Who debut as Shirley Ann Bingham, a role she will reprise in the next series and spin-offs. Ruth’s screen credits also include Years & Years, The Cleaner and Brassic.
James Cosmo plays Fraser Warren, a passenger on the train who once worked on the railways. The actor's credits include Highlander, Braveheart, and Game of Thrones.
Sharon Rooney takes on the role of Yas Brown, an employee of the train company, working primarily behind the train bar. Rooney Lawyer Barbie in Margot Robbie’s Barbie movie, after making her name in comedies Two Doors Down, and My Mad Fat Diary.
Alex Ferns is Arran, a passenger with a short temper. Many viewers will recognise him as EastEnders villain Trevor Morgan.
Katie Leung as Rachel Zhu, a businesswoman and passenger aboard the train, frustrated by how the train hack will impact her work deadlines.
How to watch Nightsleeper and how many episodes?
Nightsleeper launched on BBC One on Sunday, September 15, with all episodes available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. The series consists of six episodes, with each one clocking it an hour in length.
For those retro viewers watching on terrestrial TV, the episodes will air on Sunday and Monday nights for three consecutive weeks, with the finale episode set to broadcast on Monday, September 30.
What are the reviews saying?
It’s fair to say that TV critics have not been loving Nightsleeper so far. ‘This allegedly high-octane train thriller is almost laughably abysmal,’ writes The Guardian. ‘About as much fun as 40 minutes at Limerick Junction,’ grumbles The Irish Times. The Radio Times is equally critical of the show. 'It tries too many things at once – and ends up an odd mess,’ it writes. The Scotsman’s critic was more positive but also struggled with the multiple story threads: 'With a plot this delightfully exhausting I’m happy to take a week to recharge my batteries before jumping back onboard.'
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