Filming commences on stylish crime drama Professor T starring Ben Miller and Frances de la Tour

Filming commences on stylish crime drama Professor T starring Ben Miller and Frances de la Tour, produced by Eagle Eye Drama

“I study scumbags, I don’t catch them…”
 
Smart and stylish crime drama Professor T has commenced filming on location in Belgium and Cambridge. 

The six-part ITV drama stars Ben Miller, Frances de la Tour, Emma Naomi and Barney White and is produced by newly formed production company, Eagle Eye Drama, launched by the same team behind global drama brand Walter Presents. 

Based on the hit Belgian series of the same name, Professor T is set against the stunning backdrop of one of the world’s most prestigious educational institutions, Cambridge University. 

The unique crime series is centered around the eccentric, but brilliant Criminology Professor Jasper Tempest, played by Ben Miller (Bridgerton, Sticks and Stones, Johnny English, Death in Paradise), who suffers with OCD and has a tortured past. 

Joining the cast are Andy Gathergood (The Salisbury Poisonings), Sarah Woodward (Quiz, The Pale Horse), Ben Onwukwe (Safe, Marcella, Douglas Reith (Downton Abbey) and Juliet Aubrey (Van der Valk, Snatch).

Tony award-winning actress Frances de la Tour (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The History Boys) takes the role of Jasper’s colourful, but overbearing mother, Adelaide. Emerging star Emma Naomi (Blithe Spirit, The Trial of Christine Keeler) will play Detective Inspector Lisa Donckers with rising star Barney White cast as her police sidekick Dan Winters. 

Ben Miller comments: 

“Professor T has it all: intriguing murders, dreaming spires, and a cast of unforgettable characters, each with their own fascinating secrets. You don’t have to be a professor of criminal psychology to know the ITV audience will love it.”

In the opening episode, our protagonist finds himself unwillingly caught up acting as an advisor to the police; his interest in crime is purely academic. Diana Tyson (Elizabeth Kate Back) was violently attacked on the university campus where Professor T has tenure.  DI Lisa Donckers (Emma Naomi) suspects that the assault is very similar to one that occurred years beforehand, and, having been a previous student of Professor T’s, she thinks he can help.

Although a valuable contributor to the police force, people that don’t know Jasper very well, struggle with his behavior. Professor T’s relationship with the world often leads him to daydreams and fantasies about the people around him, and the viewer is privy to these wonderful and quirky sequences.

The series is directed by leading Belgian director, Dries Vos, produced by Robin Kerremans and Dimitri Verbeek and executive produced by Eagle Eye’s creators Walter Iuzzolino and Jo McGrath.

The series is supported by Screen Flanders and the Belgian tax shelter. PBS Distribution holds the North American rights. Beta Film will distribute the series worldwide. 

ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill has commissioned the series for the channel.

Commented Executive Producer and CEO of Eagle Eye Drama Walter Iuzzolino: 

“Professor T is my all-time favourite detective – a tortured genius wrestling with a mystery childhood trauma. It’s a unique crime series with a core of wonderful warm characters at its heart and I am delighted to be working with our hand-picked European production team to make this for ITV and international audiences.”

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Notes to Editors:

Eagle Eye Drama, for Professor T, are adhering to the TV and film production industry wide guidelines published in May and the guidance developed by all UK broadcasters, the National Security Council, as ratified by various ministerial decrees in Belgium, the Association of Commercial Broadcasters and On-Demand Service (COBA) and Pact covering how pairs and small groups of actors can interact closer than two metres safely on set.  This guidance is also complementary to the British Film Commission guidelines on managing the risks with film and high-end TV drama production.

The new health and safety measures implemented to ensure filming on high-end dramas can resume include regular coronavirus testing of cast and crew and temperature checking before filming. Social distancing will be adhered to by crew members, and the actors and production teams will observe closed cohort guidelines which limits contact with other individuals whilst filming. COVID Supervisors will also be employed on set to ensure health and safety protocols are adhered to.
 
Camera and sound equipment will be fully sanitised at the end of each filming day and make-up will be applied by technicians wearing full PPE. Hand sanitisation facilities have also been installed for frequent hand washing and crews will wear masks throughout filming.

About Eagle Eye Drama:

Eagle Eye Drama was formed by Walter Iuzzolino, Jo McGrath and Jason Thorp, the same three founders and creative team behind the global drama company Walter Presents. The company focuses on producing English language series inspired by hit foreign language shows they have discovered and championed from around the world.