A new drama series which was partly filmed in Westhoughton and is written by acclaimed Bolton actor, Andrew Buchan, has a release date – and there is not long to wait. 

Six-part series Passenger will hit screens on Sunday, March 24 at 9pm on ITV1.

It marks Andrew's debut as a screenwriter, as he is best known for acting roles on Broadchurch, The Honourable Woman, ABC Murders and most recently Better.

The actor and screenwriter was born in Stockport and grew up in Lostock, attending nearby Rivington and Blackrod High School.

Parts of the production were filmed in Bolton including at the Mercury Hotel in Westhoughton.

The Bolton News: The Mercury Westhoughton film setThe Mercury Westhoughton film set (Image: The Mercury)For the shoot, the hotel lounge was transformed into a vintage canteen.

Wunmi Mosaku heads the cast as ex-Met police officer Riya Ajunwa, who relocated to the small northern town of Chadder Vale five years ago and is about to get a case she can get her teeth into – the disappearance of local girl Katie Wells.

However, Riya barely has time to pick up her notebook before Katie reappears and life seems to carry on as normal.

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But when increasingly serious crimes begin to take place, Riya realises something highly suspicious is going on – and that the residents are hiding something from her.

David Threlfall, Jo Hartley and Nico Mirralegro co-star in the series.

Buchan has previously spoken about how he feels overwhelmed by the idea that it’s about to debut on the small screen, with help from ITV, BritBox and production company Sister.

The Bolton News: The Mercury Motel setThe Mercury Motel set (Image: The Mercury)The 45-year-old said: “I feel very lucky and very flattered they’ve gone with these scripts and I’m going to work my backside off to make them the best they can be.

“I’ve always loved shows where the known collides with the unknown, where you see communities faced with something horrifying and inexplicable, where, as a viewer, you’ve nothing in your kit-bag to explain it.

“When I started writing the scripts, I wanted to create something epic and unknown but also bed it somewhere close to home. Having grown up in Lancashire it felt like the perfect place for it. We’ll definitely see the residents of Chadder Vale pushed to their limits.”

Executive producers Jane Featherstone and Lucy Dyke said: “Andy has an incredible ear for character; brilliantly blending the comedy and idiosyncrasies of everyday life with such a twisted, horrifying vision of such gleeful inventiveness we were blown away.

“The fact this is his first screenplay makes it even more remarkable.”

Passenger will be available on ITV1 on Sunday March 24 at 9pm or watch it on demand on ITVX.