Sanjeev Bhaskar on switching comedy for tragedy in Unforgotten

UNFORGOTTEN has become ITV’s most gripping crime drama since Broadchurch.

Just as the nation simply had to know who was behind the awful deaths in the sleepy Dorset town, millions are now hooked on a near 40-year-old tragedy.

Instead of David Tennant and Olivia Coleman, Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar are the coppers trying to nail a killer.

And just as Coleman was previously better known for funnier roles, Sanjeev’s comedy past is his calling card.

Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No.42 are the TV favourites Sanjeev was remembered for. So, with that background, Sanjeev was in no doubt his dramatic credentials would be under some scrutiny.

“I’m still slightly shocked to be a telly cop,” Sanjeev told The Sunday Post.

“But I’m eternally grateful to be given the opportunity to do this.”

He admits he knew viewers would either say ‘I didn’t know he could act’ or ‘I told you he couldn’t act’ and says he was very much ready for both reactions.

Unforgotten follows the painstaking efforts of Sanjeev and Nicola who is disconcertingly playing also a dead copper seen only as a spirit in BBC’s River as they try to solve the coldest of cases.

Sanjeev is DS Sunny Khan and Nicola plays DCI Cassie Stuart who are leading the hunt for the killer of teenager James Sullivan, whose body was discovered in a cellar.

It had lain buried since 1976 and viewers have been left puzzling over six suspects and the part they may have played in the youth’s death.

Bernard Hill, Trevor Eve and Tom Courtenay are just three of those whose character’s past is being teased out week by week.

They lend a real gravitas to proceedings and Sanjeev confides he was keenly studying his co-stars during the production.

“Honestly, every time I was told who had been cast my jaw hit the floor,” admits Sanjeev.

“I was nervous going in anyway but doing scenes with these actors was something else.

“There were acting lessons happening as we went along. It was an extraordinary experience.”

Sanjeev in Unforgotten (ITV)

Sanjeev says he places modest co-star Nicola right up there with the finest talents.

He says that every time she mentioned the quality of the cast he felt like saying she should take a look at herself.

And he admits he still sees himself as learning his trade.

“Oh absolutely, 100%. I started later than everybody else, I think I was 33 when I began.

“I had no formal training so all my learning has been on the job.

“Working with people with the collective experience of the cast of Unforgotten was brilliant as there’s always a learning curve.

“I just watched and picked things up as we went along.”

In fact, Sanjeev says he was so keen to be involved telly bosses could probably have saved a bit on his fee.

He smiles as he confesses: “I would have joined the catering just to be a part of this.”

It’s just the latest TV cop drama to hit our screens with Lewis as well as River ensuring there are currently three peak-time choices for fans.

And self-confessed telly crime fan Sanjeev says he reckons our home-grown fare stands up well to many recent high quality TV imports.

“I loved True Detective, The Killing and The Bridge,” adds Sanjeev.

“They’re great in that they explore something else.

“And it’s fun when you have action sequences, car chases and a Scooby Doo reveal but I love when it’s more than just a straightforward whodunit.

“Unforgotten explores the impact of someone holding a secret for 40 years and what then happens to a family when there’s that knock at the door from the police.”

Unforgotten, ITV Thursday, 9pm.Jekyll and Hyde adaptation was a complete fluke, admits Charlie Higson – click here to read more