MARTIN Compston could be set to work with Irvine Welsh in a new drama about Irish republican leader James Connolly.
Compston and Line of Duty co-stars Adrian Dunbar and Vicky McClure are in talks with Welsh about a series centred on the Edinburgh-born Connolly who was a key figure in the 1916 Easter Rising.
The Scottish star has previously visited the prison where Connolly was executed in Ireland and said playing the revolutionary would be his dream role.
Dunbar, who starred alongside Compston as Superintendent Ted Hastings in Line of Duty, said he intends to work on the drama’s script with Welsh.
Dunbar has said he contacted Welsh through Jonny Owen, McClure’s broadcasting partner.
READ MORE: Downing Street defends Boris Johnson appointment of Chris Pincher despite concerns
Speaking on the Out To Lunch with Jay Rayner podcast, he said: "I might be putting my toe in the water again regarding a script.
"I'm talking to Vicky and Martin and Irvine Welsh and a few people about the possibility of writing something about James Connolly, the revolutionary.
"Irvine fits in because of Edinburgh and James Connolly and the fact that he's a very good friend of Jonny Owen who is Vicky's partner."
Compston had talked of his dream to play Connolly while on RTE show Ask Me Anything after his visit to Kilmainham Gaol where the republican leader was killed by a firing squad.
He said: "It was somewhere I had always wanted to go, that period of history fascinates me.
"I may be a bit young for it at the moment but to play James Connolly would be a dream role for me.
"I think people forget or people don't know he was Scottish.
"Just going there and being in that environment, the history just seeps out of the walls."
Connolly was born in Edinburgh’s Cowgate to Irish parents in 1868 and got involved with the Independent Labour Party that Keir Hardie started in 1893.
He then moved to Dublin and founded the Irish Socialist Republican Party, working closely with renowned trade unionist James Larkin.
Connolly later played a key role as a leader in the Easter Rising against the British in Dublin before being executed in 1916.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel