By James Hibbs

Published: Monday, 23 May 2022 at 12:00 am


Martin Freeman’s BBC drama The Responder won praise earlier this year for its complex and unflinching look at modern policing, with RadioTimes.com saying that while “the concept might seem familiar, the material is approached from an angle that feels fresh, raw and utterly compelling”.

Now Freeman has explained what he thinks sets the series apart from other police dramas, saying it’s “the lack of cliché” which makes the show uniquely compelling

Speaking at the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival, as part of a Q&A which also featured writer Tony Schumacher and executive producer Laurence Bowen, and was hosted by Jane Garvey, Freeman explained: “It’s not procedural, it’s not a kind of case of the week sort of thing.

“It didn’t feel clichéd to me, it didn’t feel like a lot of guys standing around saying police TV writing sort of stuff.”

#TVFest is in full swing after last night’s The Responder panel with Martin Freeman, writer Tony Schumacher and Executive Producer Laurence Bowen, as well as a reflection on the legacy of Live Aid with Sir Bob Geldof.

Explore today’s programme https://t.co/iVowseF2XQ pic.twitter.com/mnqqpDM9By

— #QueerEastTakeover (@BFI) May 21, 2022