Brand to star in serial killer drama

Russell Brand is to appear in ITV serial killer drama Cold Blood.

The comic will have a straight acting role, but details of his character remain under wraps.

An ITV Productions insider said: ‘Russell might raise a few eyebrows but that’s just because people might have forgotten that he is an actor as well, because of all the other things he has been doing.’

The show stars Matthew Kelly as a mass murderer who killed eight women and a child. A pilot was aired in 2005, attracting seven million viewers, and a second installment has now been filmed, which will air on March 5.

Executive producer Kieran Roberts said: ‘The first Cold Blood did fantastically well for ITV1 and Matthew was captivating in the role of Wicklow. This second film has even more twists and turns that will have the audience on the edge of their seats.’

Actors’ newspaper The Stage says the programme has now been commissioned for a full series and will feature a host of guest stars, including Brand.

The insider added: ‘The second one-off drama is going out soon and everyone is really behind the project. On the basis of that, it is going to full series and we have some great stars appearing in it.’

Brand recently starred in the The Abbey, a pilot of a sitcom set in a rehab clinic, on ITV1 and he has made no secret of his ambitions to become a Hollywood star.

Published: 23 Feb 2007