Danny

EastEnders legend Danny Dyer, best known for his role as Mick Carter on the soap, has landed a role in a “heart-stopping” new drama based on one of the most memorable events in UK history

EastEnders legend Danny Dyer has landed a role in a “heart-stopping” new drama. The actor, 48, is best known for playing Mick Carter on the long-running BBC soap, but more than three years after he left Albert Square, he has been cast in the leading role of the heroic PC Trevor Lock in a new programme about the 1980 embassy siege, all based on the book by Ben Macintyre, with a script by Will Smith.

The Siege, which begins filming this week, will cover the events that unfolded in South Kensington, London, more than 45 years ago, and the soap icon will take on the part of the police officer who was on guard when he was taken hostage alongside 25 others.

It all came to a head when the SAS stormed the building during a live television broadcast following a six-day standoff. A total of five of the six terrorists were killed in the operation

READ MORE: Channel 4’s ‘warm and authentic’ Secret Genius sparks surge of applications to MensaREAD MORE: Rivals Series 2 first look as Emily Atack teases ‘welcome to the naughtiest show on TV’

Dyer will be joined in the series by Downton Abbey actor Lewis Doyle and The Crown’s Alex Jennings, amongst a host of others. BAFTA winner Lewis Arnold will direct the six-part series, and Patrick Spencer, who also worked on it ,Mr Bates vs The Post Office, will serve as executive producer for AC Chapter One.

Ian Katz, Chief Content Officer, Channel 4 said: “The Iranian embassy siege and the daring raid which ended it was an iconic moment that forged the ferocious reputation of the modern SAS.

“The show is a heart-stopping, emotional thriller that reveals the little-known motivations of the hapless hostage-takers and the very human reality of what went on inside the embassy as the world looked on and Britain’s most lethal soldiers practised their high-stakes assault.

“It will change the way people understand the siege and reveal how close the famous SAS operation came to disaster. We’re thrilled to be working with Will Smith, Ben Macintyre, Lewis Arnold, Patrick Spence and the remarkable cast. This major commission underlines Channel 4’s commitment to dialling up exceptional drama in its slate of original British programming.”

Alexandre Piel, Deputy Head of Drama, ARTE France, said: “The Siege is our first co-production with the UK, and we are truly honoured to be associated with Channel 4 on this fantastic project. Will Smith is a brilliant author; his adaptation of Ben Macintyre’s novel masterfully blends a gripping thriller with the emotional depth of this tragic event.

“He made it an intense, moving, and funny story all at once. It has been wonderful to stand at Patrick Spence’s side in his adventure. It’s a unique opportunity, the one that allows you to witness the unfolding of a historical moment turning into a disaster in front of the whole world.

“And we are also more than happy that this project enables us to have worked for the first time with the esteemed Channel 4 team.”

It all comes less than a year after PC Lock passed away at the age of 85. At the time, a Polce Federation spokesperson said: “PC Lock is remembered for calming his fellow hostages during the siege, acting as an intermediary between the terrorists and the security forces that ringed the building and – as the embassy was stormed – tackling the leading gunman.

“PC Lock was awarded the George Medal for his ‘outstanding courage, sustained bravery, calmness and devotion to duty. We could not have said it any better.”

Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

On Naderi, Rohl said of the German who joined from Hansa Rostock: “I’m very happy that we could sign him, very late. It was a long process with him. He showed straight away that he wanted to come and was very clear.

“We tracked him the last couple of weeks and months. He scored, he had some good assists, he’s powerful, he can run. Good header, good physicality, good pressing player – a lot of things we need up front. He needs some minutes to adapt to a new league.

“He played regularly a lot of minutes in the last couple of weeks.”

Rohl also likened Naderi to Germany forwards Fredi Bobic and Nick Woltemade, the latter with Newcastle United and Bobic having retired in 2006.

Scottish Premiership leaders Heart of Midlothian could move nine points clear of Celtic and Rangers with victory over St Mirren on Tuesday evening (20:00 GMT). Rangers host Kilmarnock on Wednesday (19:45), when Celtic are away to Aberdeen (20:00).

“We have minimum two games against them,” Rohl said of “consistent” Hearts.

“We can win a lot of games until the end of the season. I can’t give you the guarantee that we win 14 games because there is still the opponent.

“I’m totally convinced that this group has everything to move forward in these final steps.”

Following his wife’s passing, the Bellaghy native found comfort through his work, friends, family, GAA club and community.

There were challenges along the way as Quinn’s life, once dominated by Gaelic football, was now centred around raising his children and mastering the domestic tasks at home, but the can-do attitude Catherine lived by is carried on by Quinn, who says he was “very lucky to meet Catherine and I’m a better person to have met her”.

“This has not been easy. A mother going home to tell three children she is going to die is not easy. Sitting down to explain it hasn’t gone well is the worst experience of your life, but we came out the other side of it.

“It’s not a great experience and not one I want anyone to have to deal with, but it forms your character and makes you who you are. Life is to be enjoyed, so get out there and get on with it – that was Catherine’s attitude to it.

“Catherine never felt sorry for herself, just said it was one of the challenges you get and that’s how she was throughout the illness.

“What I’ve learned from this is the importance of life.”

Listen to the GAA Social podcast with Danny Quinn here