Trigger Point ITV—the new drama from Line of Duty creator also features one of its lead stars, but when is the show on TV?

Trigger Point ITV is almost here and viewers are in for some suspenseful storytelling in this new drama starring Line of Duty's Vicky McClure.

It might seem like a lifetime ago that fans watched Line of Duty as it was brought to a rather surprising and somewhat divisive conclusion, with Line of Duty season 7 rumors circulating, though still not confirmed. Fans of this fast-paced crime drama have likely found solace in other equally gripping shows this winter, from Stay Close to The Bay. Though there’s nothing quite like seeing your favorite actors again, and now Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio’s latest show will see Vicky McClure (AKA Line of Duty’s DI Kate Fleming) back on our screens. 

Produced by Jed’s HTM Television, viewers better prepare to watch Vicky back in action across what promises to be six heart-stopping episodes. But what is the new Trigger Point ITV series about, who is Vicky McClure’s character and when does the drama start?  

What is the new Trigger Point ITV series about?

Anyone who can't get enough of police dramas like Shetland series 6 and Manhunt The Night Stalker better set their reminders for Trigger Point ITV now. The new show is set to be similarly gripping as it follows the dangerous work of the Metropolitan Police bomb disposal squad. When a terrorist campaign threatens London over the summer, ex-military officers and bomb disposal operatives Lana Washington (Vicky McClure) and Joel Nutkins (Adrian Lester) are once again on the frontline. 

Though it’s not long before the experienced officers are in a race against time to track down the perpetrators and prevent devastation in the capital, all while their trust in each other is tested. 

And whilst some prospective viewers might be drawn to compare Trigger Point ITV to Line of Duty given Vicky's inclusion and Jed Mercurio's production company's involvement, he has recently spoken out about just how different the two shows are.

According to Radio Times, Jed revealed at a press event, “We’re very proud of our collaboration on Line of Duty, and obviously thrilled with the way in which that series has connected with such a large audience. But I think that the audience [of Trigger Point] will realize that this is a very different piece of work."

He went on to reflect on how if LOD fans did watch Trigger Point because of their love of Vicky, however, that would be "lovely".

"You know, it’s great if people come to [Trigger Point] because they love Vicky from Line of Duty, and they want to see her in this particular role. So that would be lovely if it gives the show more attention," he declared.

Who is Vicky McClure in Trigger Point ITV?

In Trigger Point ITV, Vicky McClure stars as the primary character, bomb disposal operative or ‘Expo’ Lana Washington. Experienced in this demanding role, she nonetheless puts her own life on the line every day for her job and shares a close bond with her colleague Joel Nutkins. The two formed a friendship during their time serving in Afghanistan and it’s only strengthened during their time as ‘expos’. 

Any Line of Duty fans out there are sure to wonder about similarities between the high-octane style of this upcoming drama, though Vicky has previously explained just how different Lana and Kate are. As reported by Digital Spy, she recently told them and other press that she doesn’t see them as similar at all. 

"I've sort of fallen into this genre and with Line of Duty, we never expected it to do what it's done, and I can't be worried about taking roles that might feel [like they're] in a similar world, or a similar vein, because of that,” Vicky reportedly explained. 

"I look at Lana and Kate and I don't see them together as the same people at all. Not only in the way that Lana looks, and the way that we've designed that, her personality is very different," she reflected. "They're both very strong women, for sure, and very brave but those are the kind of roles I love to take.”

Vicky continued, "If I read a script, I often find myself wanting to play the male's role because that is the usually strong, committed role, so I'm always going to be drawn to that."

Meanwhile the Trigger Point ITV star also echoed this sentiment and expressed her delight that the show places a female expo at the forefront of the drama. According to Radio Times, Vicky said, “There’s only a very small number of expos working with the Met, and none of them are women as far as I’m aware. But there would be a lot of female expos in the army. I’ve read scripts over the years where I’ve thought, “I really like this script… I’d really like his part though.” 

“So I like that this is a story about a female expo, and it’s completely possible because there are female expos in the army,” she added. 

Whilst Trigger Point ITV’s Lana might be very different to Vicky’s Line of Duty character, this experienced expo’s quest to uncover the culprits behind such a terrifying terrorist campaign is sure to delight police drama fans. We can’t wait!  

Trigger Point cast

Whilst Vicky McClure’s Lana Washington might be one of the most prominent Trigger Point ITV cast members, she’s not the only famous face to appear in the police drama. Joining her is Adrian Lester, perhaps best known for his roles in Hustle and Life, as her friend and colleague Joel Nutkins. Just like Lana, Joel once served in Afghanistan and has many years of experience under his belt.

Opening up on the dynamic between Lana and Joel, Trigger Point ITV writer Daniel Brierley has shared that this “double act” is definitely one to watch as Joel’s the only one who “gets” her.

As revealed by Radio Times, he explained, “For me you can’t really have Lana without having Joel, they are part of a double act. He’s the only one who sees all the sides of her—she never has to pretend around him and he gets her.”

Daniel also addressed the “opposite” nature of the characters, disclosing that whilst Lana is “vulnerable”, Joel is set to be much more stoic in the face of great challenges.

“They have this symbiotic relationship and they both complete the other,” he said. “So I couldn’t have Lana, who is raw, vulnerable and wears her heart on her sleeve, without having a character like Joel who is the opposite.”

The publication reports that Adrian and Vicky are acting alongside fellow Trigger Point ITV cast members Mark Stanley (King Henry VII in Anne Boleyn) as DI Thom Youngblood and Kerry Godliman (After Life) as Sonya Reeves. Warren Brown (Luther) will be playing Karl Maguire and Manjinder Virk (Midsomer Murders) is playing DI Samira Desai. 

When does Trigger Point start and how to watch it 

If you already can’t wait to watch Trigger Point on ITV then you don’t have long to wait, with the first episode of the six part series airing on Sunday, January 23rd at 9pm on ITV. The subsequent episodes will then be released every week in this scheduling slot and it’s possible the full series could land on the ITV Hub too. This has not been confirmed and for many shows each episode is only made available following the weekly broadcasts.

Though fellow ITV drama The Bay, which Morven Christie has left, has each of its episodes on the hub after the series premiere. If Trigger Point doesn't follow suit, or if you'd simply prefer to watch the shocking plot points unfold in weekly instalments, then Sundays are the days to set your reminder this winter.

But if you’re abroad when Trigger Point ITV airs then sadly you won't be able to watch the show as you normally would at home, thanks to regional restrictions. However, luckily there’s an easy solution and you can use a VPN to continue watching this hit drama. This is a handy bit of software that changes your IP address so that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home. 

Our sister site, TechRadar, has tested all of the major VPN services and they rate ExpressVPN as the absolute best. They say, “It’s compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can’t go wrong with Express.”

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Ranked among one of the fastest VPN providers, this risk-free service is also compatible with all of your devices. Enjoy access to almost any streaming service, and if you don't like it there's a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you've never installed a VPN before, don't worry, it's quick and easy. Just follow these three steps:

1. Download and install the VPN following ExpressVPN's easy-to-follow instructions.
2. Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the UK.
3. With your VPN installed and server location set to UK, you can now watch Trigger Point online. 

So the next time you have a free moment over the coming month, why not enjoy all the fast-paced action, emotional turmoil and undercurrent of suspicion that looks set to make Trigger Point ITV one not to miss?