Martin Shaw Stars In New Supernatural Drama

Lime Pictures has been commissioned by BBC One to produce a two-part supernatural drama called Apparitions starring Martin Shaw. Martin Shaw (Judge John Deed, George Gently) will head the cast of this riveting and multi-layered drama about an exorcist battling demons in what he discovers to be the beginning of the End of Days.

Martin will play a Jesuit priest who works for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to investigate miraculous happenings and to promote candidates to sainthood.

He is drawn into the world of exorcisms when a ten-year-old girl approaches him convinced that her father is possessed by a demon.

Written and directed by Joe Ahearne (Ultraviolet, Doctor Who, This Life) and created by Joe Ahearne and Nick Collins (Murder In Suburbia), Apparitions will start filming later this year and is expected to be screened on BBC One in early 2008.

Tony Wood, Creative Director at Lime Pictures, says: "Joe Ahearne has created a gripping story of intrigue and mystery which raises as many questions as it answers.

"Martin Shaw is the perfect choice to play the lead role and I am delighted to be working with the BBC on this project which I hope will become a long-standing relationship."

Anne Mensah, BBC Head of Drama, Scotland, adds: "We are delighted to be working with Lime Pictures on their first drama commission for BBC One. Apparitions is an incredibly bold piece which examines the eternal battle between good and evil.

"Father Jacob is a new iconic character for television: a force for good and yet a very modern mixture of humanity, belief and integrity. It's fantastic to have an actor as great as Martin Shaw in this role."

Apparitions will be shown on BBC One next year.