51AVÊÓƵ

Martin Clunes is set to star in a real life role as a farmer in an upcoming crime drama.

Mr Clunes, who owns a 130-acre farm in Beaminster, will lead an ITV crime series, Out There, as a farmer confronted with the 'dark forces' of county lines drug dealing sweeping through rural and farming communities.

ITV said the six-part drama will depict the 'stealthy and surreptitious invasion' of the farmer's livelihoods by gangs which use the countryside for county lines drug trafficking.

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According to the show's synopsis, Mr Clunes' character, Nathan Williams, is a widower who runs a farm which has been in his family for generations.

He embarks on a personal journey that will take him ever further out of his comfort zone into a dark alternative world as he fights to 'protect his family, his homestead and his legacy'.

The show was written by Ed Whitmore and Marc Evans, who previously worked with Mr Clunes in the 2019 crime drama Manhunt.

Having been installed as an inaugural chancellor at Hartpury University, the programme will be Mr Clunes' first acting role since his final performance in the popular show Doc Martin two years ago.

He added: "I'm very happy to be working with Marc Evans and Ed Whitmore again after the success of Manhunt.

"Out There could not be more different from Doc Martin.

"It's pretty dark, but definitely a story worth telling."

Polly Hill, ITV's head of drama, said the drama will focus on the relationship between Clunes' character with his son as they deal with the challenges of running a farm and crime.

A release date for the programme has not yet been revealed.

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