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The Secret Agent star Vicky McClure admits she’d have been gutted to miss out on the role

Vicky in The Secret Agent (PA Photo/BBC/Mark Mainz)
Vicky in The Secret Agent (PA Photo/BBC/Mark Mainz)

THE SECRET AGENT may seem as English as it comes.

But the BBC1 drama about a bomb plot in 19th Century London has more than a bit of a Scots flavour to it.

Locations in Edinburgh and Glasgow feature extensively, including Kelvingrove Museum doubling as a railway station.

And star Vicky McClure is getting used to shooting north of the border. She’s currently filming three-part psychological drama The Replacement in Glasgow.

As it happens, her Line Of Duty co-star, Martin Compston, is filming another drama in the city, making it easy for Vicky to attend his recent wedding.

Tonight’s the second instalment of the three-part adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s period novel about a Victorian terrorism plot. And Vicky says she was desperate to be a part of it.

“I read the script and straight away I called my agent and said, ‘Right, I’ve got to nail this!’

“I had just finished Line Of Duty and I remember thinking I’d be absolutely gutted if I didn’t get it.

With Martin Compston in Line of Duty (Mark Bourdillon / BBC)
With Martin Compston in Line of Duty (Mark Bourdillon / BBC)

“I met with Charles, the director, and when you can sit in a room with someone who’s potentially going to cast you, you can have a really honest conversation.

“You can feel very genuine and say, ‘I love this script and I really think I can bring something to that role’.”

Vicky admits her Secret Agent character Winnie is a world away from her feisty Line Of Duty copper Kate.

“They are completely different in so many ways. Kate would absolutely batter her!

“Although Winnie does prove at the end she has a bit of strength. Kate’s always prepared for the possibility she may have to do something she does have the strength to do.”

The Secret Agent, BBC1, tonight, 9pm


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