Philip Glenister relishes role in From There To Here drama

The new drama, From There To Here, was a lot more than words on the page of a script for Steven Mackintosh.

It starts with the horrific events of the IRA bombing of Manchester city centre in 1996, following the lives of those impacted right through to the Millennium. And Steven was actually there at the time the blast hit the Arndale Shopping Centre.

“Manchester is a major player in this story,” reveals Steven, a familiar face from series such as The Jury and Luther.

“It’s right at the heart of it and it was wonderful filming something about an era and a place you remember so well. Bizarrely, I happened to be in Manchester at the time.

“I was filming another project when the explosion happened. I remember the shock and the drama and being evacuated from the centre of the city. And all of that being mixed with the excitement and hope about Euro ’96.”

The blast, which happened on the day England played Scotland in the Championships, injured more than 200 people, although there were no fatalities.

It’s far from all doom and gloom in the three-part mini-series which also stars Philip Glenister, Bernard Hill, Liz White and Saskia Reeves.

“It has a wonderful strand of humour and captures a time a lot of people will remember,” insists Steven.

The 1997 General Election that swept Tony Blair to power features in the series that follows two families brought together by the events.

Life On Mars star Philip took another trip back in time, having shot the cop series in Manchester. And he says it was good to be back.

“I’ve done so much work in Manchester that it’s been an incredibly important and significant city in my career,” confides Philip.

“I haven’t been back for a few years since I finished filming Life On Mars. So it was lovely to be back. What’s extraordinary is that each time I come back it’s been about six years now how much it evolves and changes.”

From There To Here is written by Peter Bowker, who penned Occupation and medical drama Monroe, and that was appeal enough for Philip.

“He’s a friend and neighbour of mine, funnily enough,” adds Philip.

“When you get a script by him you know you’re in for something exciting. After the first episode I read the second, then the third. That’s always a sign there’s something pretty hot on the page.”