Lennie James, best known for his role as bent cop DCI Tony Gates in the BBC drama Line of Duty, is set to star in a new medical series, Critical, on Sky 1. The show, created by Jed Mercurio, unfolds in real time, with each of its 13 episodes depicting a one-hour race to save a patient's life. James plays Dr Glen Boyle, a trauma consultant, and spent weeks shadowing doctors at a London teaching hospital to prepare for the role.
James admits he is not usually a fan of medical dramas, finding them boring, but was drawn to Critical's unique format. 'If a procedure takes 12 minutes, we would take 12 minutes to shoot it,' he explains. The production involved medical staff on set to ensure accuracy, avoiding common TV tropes like gratuitous defibrillator use. James praises Mercurio for finding drama in realism.
The actor first worked with Mercurio on Line of Duty in 2012, which became BBC2's best-performing drama in a decade. Despite his character's death, James says he was 'gutted' not to return for the second series and tried to convince Mercurio to bring him back. 'Jed was having none of it,' he laughs.
Now 49, James has built a steady career across TV and film, including roles in Snatch and The Walking Dead. He recalls being stopped by a policeman who wanted to talk about the zombie series, and being called out by name by a homeless man. Despite his success, James remains grounded, mentoring young black inner-city kids, though he insists he is not a role model. 'I got lucky,' he says, emphasising the importance of celebrating everyday heroes over celebrities.
