Netflix announces brand new crime thriller from Bafta-winning creator behind The Guilt

NETFLIX has announced a brand new crime drama from a Bafta winner.

The new six-part series promises to be a thrilling thriller, inspired by a remarkable investigation.

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Author Neil Forsyth, 46, is known for his work on major series such as The Gold and Guilt.

The latter series has won numerous accolades, including the RTS Scotland Best Drama Award and several Scottish BAFTAs.

But his new Netflix series promises to be his most memorable yet, because it’s based on a true story.

To bring the drama to life, extensive research was conducted and interviews were held with the many personalities involved in the investigation.

The story concerns a group of unsuspecting British customs officers.

They become undercover agents and attempt to infiltrate some of the most dangerous criminal drug gangs in the UK.

Neil was very excited about the series, admitting: “I am really excited to be telling this incredible story, along with everyone at Tannadice Pictures.

“I think Legends is a fascinating, moving, untold British story that deserves to be told in its entirety, and I’m delighted that Netflix has agreed to do so.”

According to Variety, the logline reads: “In the early 1990s, at the height of the international war on drugs, the government agency responsible for Britain’s borders, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, realized they were losing the battle against drug smuggling. Their solution was extraordinary.

“In a top-secret operation, a small team of British customs officers were sent undercover. Their job: to infiltrate Britain’s most dangerous drug gangs.”

It added: “They were not trained spies.

“These were ordinary men and women, plucked from ordinary lives across the UK, given basic training and then told to create new identities in the criminal underworld. These identities were called Legends.”

A Netflix spokesperson also admitted that the company is very happy with the new partnership.

Mona Qureshia, director of UK content at the streaming giant, added: “As fans of Neil’s ‘The Gold’, we were immediately excited at the prospect of getting his hands on the extraordinary story of Legends.

“Neil takes us back to 1990s Britain, where the government was losing the battle in the global war on drugs. Neil’s scripts introduce us to a compelling ensemble of characters, whose unexpected journeys through the dangerous labyrinth of undercover operations promise a gripping, action-packed series in the best tradition of British crime fiction.”

She added: “We can’t wait for ‘Legends’ to come to life on Netflix.”

Other details, such as cast announcements, are currently unknown, but more will be announced in the future.

Neil is no stranger to working with big stars: both Line of Duty star Mark Bonnar and Downton Abbey actress Phyllis Logan had major roles in Guilt.

Phyllis’ costume drama colleague Hugh Bonneville also worked with the producer previously, having played DCI Brian Boyce in The Gold.

There are currently three seasons of Guilt available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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