Eve Myles has revealed she was in constant contact with the real-life detective who inspired her new ITV thriller, Gone. The six-part series, premiering this weekend, is based on the true story of a detective who solved the cold case murder of a 17-year-old girl in the 1980s.
Speaking on ITV's This Morning, Myles said Detective Sergeant Julie Mackay was 'on call for me 24/7'. Mackay investigated the 1984 murder of Melanie Road, a case that remained unsolved for 32 years until Mackay's 2009 cold case investigation led to a conviction. The series is partly inspired by the book To Hunt a Killer, written by crime correspondent Robert Murphy about Mackay's work.
Alongside Myles, the show stars David Morrissey. Myles plays Detective Annie Cassidy, who attempts to solve the mysterious case of a missing woman. The synopsis describes a 'compulsive game of cat and mouse' between Cassidy and a suspect, Michael Polly, with 'a deeper exploration of trauma, trust and the legacy of elite institutions' beneath the surface.
Myles praised Mackay's generosity and brutal honesty, noting that Mackay also appears as a supporting artist in the series. 'We were all hyper-vigilant, like, “We've really got to look like police officers now, because she's here,”' Myles said.
The actress also described the show's plot twists as 'gripping', admitting she was wrong about her initial assumptions after reading the first script. 'It's full of brilliant surprises and shocks,' she added.
Gone premieres on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, March 8 at 9pm.
