Filming is underway on the hit series by Kay Mellor which is returning with a new standalone series after five years away.
Today the BBC has announced the cast for the new series of The Syndicate begins as Morrissey will be joined by Emily Head, Taj Atwal, Katherine Rose Morley, Kieran Urquhart and introducing Grey's Anatomy star Liberty Hobbs in her UK debut.
Further cast members include Mark Benton, Gaynor Faye, James Cartwright, Andrew Dunn, Lorraine Bruce as well as former Corrie stars Kym Marsh and Katie McGlynn plus Strictly runner-up Joe Sugg in his TV acting debut.
When the owners of Woodvale Kennels announce they are selling the business to a large corporate chain, the staff are devastated to realise they may well be out of a job. This is disastrous news for Keeley (Katherine Rose Morley), Jake (Kieran Urquhart), Roxy (Taj Atwal), Gemma (Liberty Hobbs) and Colette (Emily Head) who all depend on their pay to get them from one month to the next.
As the staff’s future is thrown into question the weekly lottery looks like the only lifeline to gambling addict Keeley. So when she checks the ticket with local newsagent Frank (Neil Morrissey) and the machine goes off she is ecstatic! But is everything as it seems and will our syndicate get what’s rightfully theirs? Set between Yorkshire and Monaco, we see our kennel workers spend every last penny they own to see justice done.
In true Mellor-drama style this ‘cat-and-mouse’ thriller is peppered with the comedy, pathos and high-drama audiences have come to expect from The Syndicate.
Speaking about the new series and getting filming underway, Kay Mellor said “Lockdown has been a roller-coaster of emotions for all of us. I was devastated not to be able to begin shooting the new Syndicate."
"All the scripts were written and we were four days away from principal photography but now we’re ready for the stage and I couldn’t be more excited. We’ve got a loyal, star-studded cast and a talented crew, who have waited patiently in the wings."
"The BBC - Piers Wenger and Gaynor Holmes especially - have been utterly brilliant, supporting us all the way. This series is a brand-new story about a syndicate of low paid kennel workers who think they’ve won the lottery but have been robbed of their ticket. The chase to confront the culprit takes us to the wealthy French Riviera where the young syndicate find themselves well out of their depth.”
Executive Producer for the BBC, Gaynor Holmes said “We are so thrilled to have The Syndicate return to BBC One for a fourth series. Kay has written yet another brilliantly entertaining story and we can’t wait to see the fabulous cast bring it to life.”
Following the UK premiere on BBC One, the series will premiere exclusively as a BritBox Original Co-Production in the US and Canada.
Together with independent health and safety consultants, in full consultation with industry partners and in accordance with all current government guidelines The Syndicate production team have developed comprehensive production protocols to ensure that the series is produced in a safe and responsible manner during this time of global pandemic.
The Syndicate will air on BBC One