Cast of Prey were pushed through the pain barrier

Pain was the name of the game for the cast of Prey, ITV’s all-action new drama.

Filming was suspended after star John Simm ripped his calf muscle.

And co-star Rosie Cavaliero was battered and bruised after gruelling chase and fight scenes.

“It was pretty hazardous,” Rosie told The Sunday Post.

“John got hurt during a scene we shot quite early when I had to chase him through a field before jumping into a river.

“It all went well until John went to do a scene where he was clambering up a slope and his foot caught.

“We heard a pop as his calf tore and he was in a lot of pain. He came back on crutches for a bit and then we had to take a break and wait for his leg to heal properly to finish the action stuff.”

Rosie, who stepped up her running regime before filming to get in shape, was punched during scraps and left aching at the end of the day.

Three-part thriller Prey sees Simm as copper DS Marcus Farrow who is found at the scene of a murder with all the evidence pointing to him being the killer.

He goes on the run, becoming a criminal on the streets he used to police as he tries to evade capture while trying to clear his name.

Rosie plays Acting Detective Inspector Susan Reinhardt, tasked with tracking him down.

“They wanted someone who looked like exactly what she was, a disgruntled middle-aged woman so thanks a lot that they thought of me,” laughs Rosie.

“But she has quite an odd sense of humour and they were looking for a light touch.”

That’s right up Rosie’s street as she’s better known for comedy roles in Inside No. 9, Pat & Cabbage, Hunderby and the good-natured Nativity films.

“It’s nice to have a change of pace and a really meaty, dramatic role,” confides Rosie. I haven’t done a lot of drama and even when I have they have been the comedic roles in them.”

The 46-year-old actress was happy to get back to Manchester, where she went to university, and she’s just happy to be in steady acting demand. Like every actor, I’ve had periods of unemployment.

“When I was young I had to do a lot of office temping to keep going,” she adds.

“I remember my dad saying at one stage it was time to get a proper job. I was devastated and burst into tears but when he saw my name in a review he agreed I was really making a go of it.”