ALEXANDRA Roach and Joe Cole are set to co-star in the BBC's upcoming suspense thriller Nightsleeper from Bafta award-winning writer Nick Leather – with filming already under way in Glasgow.

The show is a "real-time thriller" taking place on a sleeper train called the Heart of Britain travelling from Glasgow to London.

It will involve a government agency trying to put a stop to the rapid escalation of the chaos onboard.

Roach, known for her role as Cat Donato is Channel 4’s The Light In The Hall, and Cole, who stars as Sean Wallace in Sky’s Gangs Of London, will play two heroes trying to save the train's passengers – but few other details have been released.

Leather said: “It’s a joy to be able to write for this cast of some of the finest acting talent in the UK today – our train is a real rollercoaster, a white-knuckle trip through the heart of Britain, and I’m delighted to have them join us for the ride.”

The series also stars Scottish actors James Cosmo, Katie Leung and Leah MacRae.

It will be produced by Euston Film, internationally distributed by Fremantle and air on BBC One and iPlayer.

Kate Harwood, managing director of Euston Films, said: “We are so excited to be carrying this brilliant, eclectic and precious cast on our train matched by tremendous talent in our security centre in London, it’s ‘all aboard’ as we start shooting Nick’s thrilling scripts."

Leather won his Bafta award for the TV movie Murdered For Being Different”.

Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said: “I’m so pleased that Joe, Alexandra and this exceptional ensemble cast have all come aboard Nightsleeper as it speeds towards BBC One and iPlayer. Nick Leather has created an adrenaline-fuelled thriller like no other and I can’t wait to see it brought to the screen.”

Nightsleeper will consist of six one-hour long episodes.