• e-mail

Steve Coogan has said he 'felt a personal connection' with Clive Driscoll after meeting with him ahead of playing the detective in ITV's Stephen.

The drama, which is based on investigation into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, will is set to air on 30 August. 

As part of his preparation into taking on the role, Steve initiated a lengthy video call with the officer who joined the investigation in 2006 - 13 years after Stephen was killed by a gang of white men in Eltham, South London in 1993.

Emotional: Steve Coogan has said he 'felt a personal connection' with playing detective Clive Driscoll in the TV drama about Stephen Lawrence's murder investigation

'I said to him, ''You are a working class policeman,'' the actor began.

''A lot of people from your background might have thought they weren't going to get any higher on the ladder and they might as well line their pockets.

''Why did you not turn out like one of those sort of policemen?''

Doppelgänger: Clive joined the investigation in 2006 - 13 years after Stephen was killed by a gang of white men in Eltham, South London in 1993 (pictured in 2021)

Clive replied that his mother, a single parent, raised him and he felt he would be letting her down, which Steve found 'really profound'.

'Clive is just a working class bloke who is decent and does a good job. It goes all the way back to Clive watching Dixon of Dock Green as a young boy who, funnily enough, was a working class role model,' the Alan Partridge star said. 

'I felt a personal connection with playing Clive and speaking to him, I liked his approach.

Working hard: Unseen pictures from the first episode of the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation drama show Steve with his team

Success: The drama tells the story of how detective chief inspector Clive led the probe that finally secured the convictions.

'Including the Cockney singalongs he performs for people in care homes and so on. I tinkle on the piano a little bit and I play the piano in the series.

'There is a robustness about Clive. A no-nonsense approach that on first appearance might look brusque and maybe rude. But the more time you spend with Clive, the more you realise it's actually part of his charm,' he concluded.

Joining Steve is Adil Ray, who took on the role of Imran Khan, who had only been working as a lawyer for 18 months when he took on the case and was awarded the rank of Queen's Counsel in 2018.

Hero: Khan had only been working as a lawyer for 18 months when he took on the case and was awarded the rank of Queen's Counsel in 2018 (Real-life Imran in 1998, right, Adil as Imran in 2021, left) 

In character: Steve Coogan is playing the role of DCI Clive Driscoll - who put together an investigation that secured the convictions of the two gang members

Talented: Stephen's mother, now Baroness Lawrence, is played by Sharlene Whyte (right) and his father by Hugh Quarshie (left)

The drama also stars Sian Brooke as Met Police chief Cressida Dick – acting deputy commissioner at the time of the verdict – and Jorden Myrie as Stephen's brother Stuart.

Stephen's mother, now Baroness Lawrence, is played by Sharlene Whyte and his father by Hugh Quarshie.

Both actors said they did not meet the Lawrences while researching the roles as they felt it would be unfair to make them relive the case again.

The senior officer: It also stars Sian Brooke (right) as Met Police chief Cressida Dick (left)  – acting deputy commissioner at the time of the verdict

The family: Stuart Lawrence (left), Doreen Lawrence (middle) and Neville Lawrence (right)

'I was trying to keep a respectful space,' Miss Whyte added. 

The drama is a sequel to The Murder Of Stephen Lawrence, which was screened in 1999.

Actor Quarshie said he spoke to Neville Lawrence 'the first time around'.

He added: 'I was very aware of the fact that I don't sound anything like him, I don't look anything like him so it was important to grab his essence or some aspect of it.

Respectful: Both actors said they did not meet the Lawrences while researching the roles as they felt it would be unfair to make them relive the case again (Hugh Quarshie plays Neville Lawrence, left, and Sharlene Whyte plays Doreen Lawrence, right)

Doting mum: Sharlene Whyte, in character, pictured alongside a photo of Stephen Lawrence

'This time around I felt that I had his impersonation in the bank, so to speak. But I had a feeling that it was going to be kind of intrusive to ask a man whose son had been murdered, 'how did you feel about the second investigation?'.

'And it was pretty clear that this script is less a reconstruction and more of a dramatic interpretation of events, so it was less about trying to imitate or impersonate Neville and more about trying to interpret the script.'

On not meeting Doreen, Whyte added: 'I didn't feel that it was right that I go to her and start asking her questions and asking her to relive the experience yet again, because I can imagine how raw and traumatic that would be. 

On the phone: Actor Quarshie said he spoke to Neville Lawrence 'the first time around'

Holding back: On not meeting Doreen, Miss Whyte added: 'I didn't feel that it was right that I go to her and start asking her questions'

Skilled: 'I was very aware of the fact that I don't sound anything like him, I don't look anything like him so it was important to grab his essence or some aspect of it,' Hugh said

Also in the cast is Richie Campbell as Duwayne Brooks, who was a friend of Stephen's and who was with him at the time he was murdered. 

Stephen was killed on the evening of 22 April 1993 in a racially motivated attack whilst waiting for a bus in Well Hall Road, Eltham.

Even though Doreen and Neville Lawrence knew the identity of their son's killers, the original investigation had failed to convict those responsible.

Frustrating: Even though Doreen and Neville Lawrence knew the identity of their son's killers, the original investigation had failed to convict those responsible

Captivating: Yazmin Mwanza as Georgina Lawrence, Stephen's sister

Spellbinding: Sharlene Whyte as Doreen Lawrence (left), Jorden Myrie as Stuart Lawrence (middle) and Hugh Quarshie as Neville Lawrence (right)

The killers: David Norris, played by Rob Witcomb (left) and Gary Dobson, played by Stephen Patten (right)

The family's extraordinary campaign for justice led to a public inquiry which branded Metropolitan Police institutionally racist.

It also brought about sweeping changes in the law and police practices, transforming thinking and understanding of racial inequality in the UK.

Yet six years on from the Inquiry no progress had been made into the case.

The ongoing struggle by Doreen and Neville to achieve justice is documented in the series.

Gripping: The drama tells the story of the ongoing struggle by Doreen and Neville to achieve justice

Justice: DCI Driscoll put together an investigation that finally – more than 18 years after his death – secures the convictions of two of the gang who committed the murder of Stephen

The drama has been produced by HTM (Hat Trick Mercurio) Television in association with Baby Cow Productions and executive produced by Mark Redhead, who produced the original drama in 1999.

Paul Greengrass, award winning screenwriter and director, who wrote and directed the Murder of Stephen Lawrence will also serve as an Executive Producer. Jimmy Mulville and Jed Mercurio are also executive producers.

Stephen was directed by Alrick Riley and produced by Madonna Baptiste. The sequel is written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and Joe Cottrell Boyce.

Tragic: Stephen (pictured) was killed on the evening of 22 April 1993 in a racially motivated attack whilst waiting for a bus in Well Hall Road, Eltham

The production team are producing this sequel with the full support of the Lawrence family, most notably Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Dr Neville Lawrence, who have given the drama their blessing.

Producer Madonna Baptiste said: 'The Lawrences' campaign for justice totally transformed attitudes to race and equality in the UK and it's an honour to be able to help tell what is an untold chapter in their story.

'Current events only highlight how relevant and important Stephen's case remains and it is such a privilege to work with Hattrick, Frank and Joe Cottrell-Boyce, Alrick Riley and our amazing cast to bring this important story to screen.' 

Family: Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Dr Neville Lawrence (pictured in 2018) have supported the new ITV drama about their son