
Department Q stars share season 2 hopes as Netflix yet to renew series
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Netflix audiences have embraced Department Q, and its stars are eagerly awaiting news of a second season. Despite Netflix not yet confirming a renewal for season 2, the show has received acclaim from both critics and viewers.
The enthralling new mystery crime drama showcases a talented cast, featuring Matthew Goode as the astute but haunted DCI Carl Morck who spearheads a fresh Cold Case division with Edinburgh's police service.
Speaking to Reach in a recent exclusive interview, Department Q actors Alexej Manvelov and Leah Byrne, portraying Akram and Rose respectively, shared their anticipation for potential future storylines.
Both characters develop significant depth throughout the series, leaving many questions about Akram's background and his life prior to Syria unresolved by the end of season one.
(Image: NETFLIX)
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On the topic of aspirations for Department Q's future seasons, Alexej kept it simple with: "Just for it to happen!"
Leah chimed in with fervent agreement, saying: "Yeah, absolutely."
Alexej further expressed his eagerness to delve deeper into his character, noting: "I look forward to unpacking a bit more about Akram because I feel there is a lot more to tell."
Adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen's popular Danish Nordic noir novels, Department Q has an extensive source material to explore, with Leah acknowledging: "For sure, we've got so many books worth of stuff waiting for us there to mine."
The book series behind Netflix's latest detective series boasts a total of 10 volumes, which could potentially fuel the show's longevity if further seasons are greenlit, reports the Express.
The lead actors shared their views on the intricate layers of the characters they portray in the series, avoiding any spoilers.
Leah was full of praise for the intricate writing of her role, saying: "I think it's just how incredible Scott writes that character," noting the delight in playing characters with depth.
"And I think something we see throughout the series is that we've got these people who are so multifaceted who appear one thing one level but then are hiding or have so much going on and it's such a joy as an actor to get to play someone like that because there's so much to explore with her."
Alexej echoed this sentiment, saying: "For an actor, it's such a perk to do a multifaceted character but also not to just reveal it. But just to do a little bit at a time and all these subtle things and stuff."
He also expressed gratitude for the collaborative process, adding: "And we worked on the backstory quite a lot on paper and references and stuff like that but then Scott let me do my thing and then he directed me, you know. And to maintain that mystery is also a trick of the trade that I really appreciate."
(Image: NETFLIX)
Netflix describes the plot of Department Q as follows: "DCI Carl Morck is a brilliant cop but a terrible colleague. His razor-sharp sarcasm has made him no friends in Edinburgh Police."
It continues: "After a shooting that leaves a young PC dead, and his partner paralysed, he finds himself exiled to the basement and the sole member of Dept. Q; a newly formed cold case unit.
"The department is a PR stunt, there to distract the public from the failures of an under-resourced, failing police force that is glad to see the back of him.
"But more by accident than design, Carl starts to build a gang of waifs and strays who have everything to prove.
"So, when the stone-cold trail of a prominent civil servant who disappeared several years ago starts to heat up, Carl is back doing what he does best - rattling cages and refusing to take no for an answer."
All episodes of Department Q are available to stream now, exclusively on Netflix.
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Daily Mirror
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
I killed an innocent man over mistaken identity - I'd do anything to change it
The firearms officer, codenamed C2, killed the innocent Brazilian with six bullets after his colleague initially opened fire, after the pair had followed the 27-year-old electrician into Stockwell tube station wrongly believing he was a would-be suicide bomber One of the two marksmen who shot Jean Charles de Menezes has spoken about the tragedy for the first time – 20 years after one of Britain's worst police blunders. In an emotional admission he accepted responsibility for the innocent Brazilian's death and apologised. He said: 'I would say to Jean Charles' family that I am sorry, that I and another officer were put in a position where we killed your son. I would do anything to roll back time, to have a different set of circumstances where that didn't happen.' Jean Charles, 27, died after he was pinned down and shot in the head by two officers who mistook him for a suicide bomber in a tube train at Stockwell station, South London, on July 22, 2005. The incident followed heightened tensions a fortnight after 7/7 when 52 people were killed, and a day after would-be suicide bombers tried to detonate more devices on London's transport network. Speaking in a four-part Netflix documentary released next week, the policeman, codenamed C2, remembered: 'By the time I'd got home I was aware there was speculation regarding the identity of the person I had killed. I didn't get any sleep, and I still had massive tinnitus, a very, very loud ringing in my ears. 'The next day I caught the tube back to work and I was called into the chief superintendent's office. He told me that the man I shot was completely innocent. I can't describe how I felt, the worst feeling ever, I killed an innocent man and I now know who that man is.' C2 killed the electrician with six bullets after his colleague initially opened fire. He said: 'I am responsible, and I accept responsibility. As a firearms officer ultimately the decision to use force is yours. 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I just thought, 'Jean probably didn't come home last night'.' But then there was a knock at the door from two of Jean's friends who police had visited in the early hours. 'They told them he was suspected of terrorism and had been arrested,' she recalled. 'I was shocked. But I also had hope. It was just a matter of going to the police to clarify everything.' Vivian and Patricia were taken to the police station, where two other cousins, Alex Alves Pereira and Alessandro Pereira, were already waiting. Patricia remembered: 'Alex was really agitated. He kept saying, 'They f***ed up, they f***ed up'. He'd already joined the dots, I thought he had been arrested. They took us to a room and sat us down around a table. 'My English wasn't great and I didn't understand a lot of what they were saying. I only understood the last part – 'He is dead'. Still, I didn't think I'd heard right. 'I turned round to one of the others and he took my hand. His hand was freezing. He told me Jean was the Brazilian who had been shot dead. I went into total despair. Everyone was crying and screaming.' They were then taken to the morgue to identify Jean Charles' body. Patricia recalled: 'He was already arranged and dressed up. That's when I became ill and fainted. The next thing I remember is me sitting on a sofa with a policewoman trying to calm me down. 'I later heard that Alex and Vivian barged into the room and grabbed Jean's body. So it was very tense.' The family pursued fruitless legal action and no officers were charged, although the Met was found guilty of health and safety failures. Patricia added: 'For months I lived in shock. I wasn't able to hear a police siren without shaking. I'd get scared whenever I see policemen on the street. Even today when I'm on the tube, I'm constantly thinking about how I should escape if anything happens. 'For the first years, I thought about Jean every day and I would cry every day. This year has brought back a lot of the trauma and painful memories.' Vivian, now married with a daughter, Luna, says: 'I was just 22 and had been in the UK three months when Jean died. I was just a countryside girl and he was my safety, so when I lost him my ground went from under me. My whole world fell apart. 'I didn't really have time to grieve because we had to deal with all the bureaucracy, the polemic and the injustice. I don't know how I survived.' She says she now wants to remember the way Jean lived his life, not the way he died. 'He was such a happy person, an extrovert who would laugh and joke and got on with everyone. He was a dreamer. He wanted to make the best use of his life but above all he wanted to help people and make his family proud. 'I remember him all the time but especially at times when I wished he were still here, like when my daughter was born. He still appears in my dreams, the Jean we loved and knew so well. He'll never be forgotten.'


Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Pride of Scotland hosts Elaine C Smith and Sanjeev Kohli are gearing up for the biggest night of the year
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'The room tomorrow night will be full to the rafters with 'angels' who are quietly making a massive difference to the world which gladdens my soul and lifts my heart.' She added: 'This is my fifth Pride and like Sanjeev said there have been so many magical moments but one of my all time favourites was in 2023 when the hard man of football Graeme Souness started crying on stage while talking about his hero – Isla Grist. "The teenager has epidermolysis bullosa – a rare and painful skin disorder which causes her skin to burn and blister at the slightest touch. She inspired the football legend to swim the channel and raise £4.5million for drug trials – just incredible. 'Another standout came in 2022 when I spotted Lulu in the audience and started belting out the first few notes of Shout as a gag. Next thing I knew she was on stage singing her hit and getting everyone to join in - to this day I believe she only did it to stop me singing. 'Last year seeing wee Wilson trotting along the red carpet in his kilt will be something I will never forget - they really are awards like no other.' Elaine, who became a gran for the second time last year, admitted the Children of Courage get her every year and paid tribute to 2022 winner Zac Gunn who passed away a few weeks ago. She said: 'I have to gird my loins every year to stop myself from greetin.' The kids just melt my heart especially wee Zac who passed away this month just weeks after having a long-awaited lung transplant. I will never forget his huge grin when Paw Patrol came on stage and presented him with his award. 'That wee child fought so hard to live and his death is heartbreaking. My love goes out to his dad Gordon, mum Ashley and brother Jacob.' Dad-of-three Sanjeev added: 'As a daddy the kids' stories have me in bits every time. Picking the winners from a shortlist is so tough and I feel so guilty - it's like someone telling me I have to pick a favourite child from my own three. 'It's truly astonishing what the Children and Teenagers of Courage bring to this world - such huge altruism from such little people. 'Maybe if adults channelled their less jaded and cynical attitude to life the world would be a better place. Most of these kids are suffering yet they still strive to support and raise funds for others. They are truly remarkable.' We launched our search for our local heroes of 2025 back in January and were inundated with thousands of nominations from across the nation. Categories include The Emergency Services Award, Teenager of Courage, Young Fundraiser, Outstanding Bravery, The King's Trust Young Achiever, Special Recognition and The P&O Cruises Inspiration Award. One of the biggest names attending tomorrow night's glittering ceremony is Succession legend Brian Cox, who is getting ready to take the stage at the Dundee Rep in new play Make It Happen about the Bank of Scotland's role in the 2008 financial crash. Other stars who will be honouring the winners include Sheli McCoy aka Sabre, singer Susan Boyle, Star Wars actor Denis Lawson, singers Nathan Evans, Calum Bowie and Cammy Barnes and Strictly's JJ Chalmers and Dr Punam Krishan. Love Island's Paige Turley and Saint Phnx's Stevie Jukes will be going live from the red carpet and presenter Laura Anderson will be manning the Pride of Scotland bar. First Minister John Swinney will also be there to celebrate the best of Scotland and there will be a performance from Britain's Got Talent finalist Vinnie McKee. - The 2025 Pride of Scotland winners will be revealed in an 8-page pullout in tomorrow's Daily Record - You can catch all the red carpet action on the Pride of Scotland Facebook, Instagram and YouTube page from 5.30pm tomorrow night


NBC News
10 hours ago
- NBC News
Virginia woman arrested in connection with Netflix star's fatal hit and run
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