The pair are investigating a routine case when they stumble upon a government conspiracy that reveals the world will end in five years time 

Elaine (played by Agyness Deyn) and Charlie (Jim Sturgess) will go on the run as they try to stay alive and protect their families. 

The story will play out over six, one-hour long episodes and was the result of a David Bowie track. 

Writer Neil Cross recently revealed that he was inspired to pen the series after listening to the late musician’s song Five Years, which also features on the show’s soundtrack. 

Speaking to Radio Times, he explained: “Five Years is about a young Bowie walking through London having learnt that the Earth has five years left. 

“And now that he’s aware of the impermanence of everything in the world, it’s charged with value and wonder.”

“But this song about the end of the world isn’t what you might expect,” he went on to add. 

“It isn’t some grinding rock song that’s bleak and nihilistic. It’s huge and it’s epic and weirdly life-affirming. And that was the inspiration for Hard Sun.”

The series will see actress and former model Agyness take on more of a lead role as Elaine, with Neil revealing: “I wanted to create a female lead unlike any other on TV. 

“When men write a female lead there’s a tendency to write the Cool Girl - a fetishised ideal of what a man sees in a woman. I wanted to avoid that trap. I wanted to write someone who was just herself.”

Hard Sun airs tonight on BBC One at 9.35pm.