THE DIPLOMAT: CASTING ANNOUNCED AND FILMING BEGINS ON NEW ALIBI DRAMA

Filming for Alibi's new UKTV Original drama, The Diplomat (6x60'), begins today in Barcelona and sees Sophie Rundle (Gentleman Jack, Peaky Blinders) take the lead as Laura Simmonds.

Further cast joining the series produced by World Productions, part of ITV Studios, include Danny Sapani as Colin Sutherland, Steve Cree as Sam Henderson and Serena Manteghi as Alba Ortiz. Plus, Isak Férriz joins the cast as Inspector Castells and Laia Costa as Mariana Cabell.

The Diplomat follows Laura Simmonds (Rundle) and her Barcelona Consul colleague and friend Alba Ortiz (Manteghi) as they fight to protect British nationals who find themselves in trouble in the Catalan city.

Mixing the roles of lawyer, counsellor and cop, Laura and Alba's diplomatic skills are stretched to the limit by the stream of cases that walk through the Consul's doors.

The series opens with the unexplained death of a young British barman working on a yacht in Barcelona's notorious marina. While the Spanish police believe that the death was a tragic accident, Laura supports the boy's grieving father, Colin (Sapani) who is convinced something more sinister took place that night.

As new evidence emerges and a murder enquiry is opened, Laura and Alba find links between the barman's death, organised crime and the British security services. Laura's quest for justice places her in real jeopardy, as she threatens to expose secrets that the British and Spanish will go to any lengths to keep hidden.

UKTV Original series The Diplomat has been commissioned by drama commissioner Philippa Collie Cousins with head of scripted Pete Thornton.

The series is ordered by Alibi channel director Emma Ayech. Richard Watsham is director of commissioning for UKTV, and Adrian Wills is genre general manager for drama and lifestyle. World Productions' Simon Heath (Line of Duty, Save Me) will exec produce.

Philippa Collie Cousins will exec produce for UKTV alongside BBC Studios director of drama Martin Rakusen. The series is created and written by Ben Richards (Showtrial, Cobra, The Tunnel) with episodes from Lauren Klee (Tina & Bobby) directed by Jill Robertson (Dalgleish, Harlots, Pennyworth) and Jennie Paddon (Sanditon) and produced by Ken Horn (Line of Duty, The Devil's Hour).