Seeking the TRUTH

PATRICK J. ADAMS and CONNOR SWINDELLS on exploring the stories of the investigators at the centre of a real-life tragedy

- SEAN MARLAND

THE BOMBING OF PAN AM 103 NEW SUNDAY & MONDAY, 9PM, BBC1 DRAMA

Shortly after 7pm on 21 December 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was en route from London to New York City when a bomb exploded in its cargo hold over the small Scottish border town of Lockerbie. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history, claiming the lives of 270 people, including 43 British citizens and 190 Americans.

Now, a new BBC1 drama, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, is set to explore the story from the perspective of the Scottish and American investigators who sought to bring the perpetrators to justice, as well as look at the devastating effect it had on the residents of Lockerbie.

The six-part series, airing across the next three weeks, opens in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy as Scottish police officer Detective Sergeant Ed McCusker (portrayed by SAS Rogue Heroes star Connor Swindells) becomes one of the first to arrive at the site of wreckage in the residential area of Sherwood Crescent.

His boss, Detective Chief Superintendent John Orr (Mum's Peter Mullan), quickly realises that his team could be presiding over an enormous crime scene covering around 845 square miles.

He's soon contacted by FBI Special Agent Dick Marquise (Canadian-American actor Patrick J. Adams, Suits), who is keen to have US explosives expert Tom Thurman (Reunion's Eddie Marsan) examine the debris, and so begins a complex transatlantic collaboration that will span years. Here, Connor, 28, and Patrick, 43, share their take on bringing this story to our screens...