What’s it called?

The Harrowing

What’s it about?

A scripted crime drama with more than a whiff of the supernatural to it, The Harrowing follows the investigation into the hellish goings-on which occurred on the Scottish island of Toll Mòr over five days one Easter during a once-in-a-century storm. Police Sergeant Jackie O’Hara is initially called to investigate a murder – a family has been murdered in their farmhouse – and finds the sole survivor, a young girl, wandering the hills. Episode one opens with her relating her experiences to superiors officers who are conducting some sort of enquiry. The story then unspools in flashbacks.

Who’s in it?

Joanne Froggatt, Golden Globe-winning star of Downton Abbey, stars as Jackie O’Hara. She’s joined a wealth of Scottish actors including Stuart Martin (Silas Sharrow in Sky’s Jamestown), Jamie Michie, Lewis Howden, Alec Newman, Hilary Maclean and Blair Kincaid.

What’s so good about it?

Froggatt has unquestionable star quality, even though it’s somewhat diminished by the lack of visuals, but from the very start the drama reveals itself to be a thing of quality, from the acting to the sound design.

Where can I find it?

The show is written by Mark Healy and the first three parts of the eight-parter were made available for download last week via iTunes. It’s made by content producers Storyglass, part of the Fremantle production company whose TV credits include The Young Pope and Picnic At Hanging Rock.

For fans of ...

The Wicker Man, Shetland.