Marcella: Everything you need to know about the hit show
What do we know about series 4?
Believe it or not, it's been nearly six years since ITV drama Marcella first featured on our TV screens! Following the roaring success of the show, as well as it now being available to view on Netflix, viewers are holding out for more after a tantalising cliff hanger featuring main actress Anna Friel.
After the popular drama returned in early 2021, here's everything you need to know about the ITV series - including that all important question... Will there be a series four?
What is Marcella?
Marcella is a TV show which first hit our screens back in April 2016. The show, which is directed and produced by Swedish screenwriter Hans Rosenfeldt, follows the story of London detective Marcella Backland (Anna Friel), who returns to work in the Big Smoke to investigate a serial killer from a case 11 years ago.
Following the success of series 1, ITV confirmed Marcella would return, with series 2 airing in February 2018. The second series saw Marcella continue to juggle her work and home life, investigating a serial killer of children whilst dealing with her ex-husband Jason's new engagement to his rehab nurse.
As Marcella and Jason's custody battle of their two children becomes ugly, Marcella starts counselling sessions in order to remember what happened during her blackouts, with series two ending on that massive cliff-hanger where Marcella assaulted DCI Rav Sangha, and was later pronounced 'dead' in a fire. Of course, as viewers know, it wasn't actually Marcella who died in the fire, it was a homeless lady who she swapped DNA with in series one.
The hugely-anticipated season three, which was forced to postpone production in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, was filmed entirely on location in and around Belfast and sees Marcella in the Irish city as an undercover detective.
The brand new eight-part series will show Marcella with a new identity (Keira), as the series focusses on the infamous Maguire crime family.
ITV say of the storyline, "In true Marcella style, the series has interweaving storylines with strands focusing upon the Maguires’ criminal operations. As she inhabits the character of Keira, Marcella’s quest for the truth puts her in danger and others in harm’s way. Her undercover role makes her take risks, but will her old life eventually catch up with her?"
When does Marcella start?
Marcella series 3 hit our TV screens on Tuesday 26th January 2021.
Sharing the news online at the time, bosses said, 'Confirmed: Marcella returns to Tuesday 26 January at 9pm on ITV. Watch the whole new series on ITV Hub from Tuesday 26 January. @itvhub' (sic).
If you live outside of the UK, series three of Marcella was actually international streamed on Netflix in June 2020, with ITV initially scheduled to air the drama in Autumn 2020.
What channel is Marcella on?
Weekly episodes aired on ITV, with the whole of series three being available on the ITV Hub and BritBox. You can also stream seasons one-three on Netflix.
Who plays Marcella?
British actress Anna Friel plays the role of Detective Sergeant Marcella Backland in the hit ITV drama. Anna, who was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, joined the cast in 2016 as the lead character and quickly received great praise for her role.
In 2017, Anna won an International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress for her role in Marcella.
Marcella series 3 cast:
Marcella Backland played by Anna Friel
As well as reprising her role as detective Marcella Backland in series three, Anna Friel will also play Marcella's new undercover persona, Keira Devlin.
After Marcella discovered she'd actually murdered her own daughter at the end of series two, the character wanted to erase herself leading to the new character.
According to ITV, "Keira's official backstory is that she was born in Manchester but had Northern Irish grandparents, whom she'd visit in the summers until her late teens. Keira then became a cop in the Manchester police when she was 22 years old and worked her way up to detective by the age of 30. However, Keira was discovered to be a corrupt officer. She decided to move back to her roots in Northern Ireland and that's when she met Lawrence."
DCI Rav Sangha played by Ray Panthaki
Actor Ray Panthaki is also back for the third series, reprising his role as DCI Rav Sangha.
In series three, Rav continues to be a loyal and committed police officer, which lands him a promotion.
But of course, as fans will know, Marcella left him for dead at the end of series two after he talked her down from the roof. So will the truth finally come out?
Frank Young played by Hugo Speer
Although we were initially introduced to Frank Young at the end of series two, his character has a bigger role in series three.
With Marcella technically being 'deceased', the police make use of her undercover with Frank being her handler. Frank also helped make the Keira persona using extreme techniques and psychological manipulation.
Although Frank is Marcella's boss and protector, he has his own reasons to bring down the Maguire family.
Katherine Maguire played by Amanda Burton
Actress Amanda Burton joins the cast of Marcella as the matriarch of the Maguire family; Katherine Maguire.
Finn Maguire played by Aaron McCusker
Finn Maguire is the middle child of the Maguire family, with actor Aaron McCusker playing the role.
Although he has become CEO of legitimate business operations in Belfast, there are many crime operations that generate the family further revenue.
Rory Maguire played by Michael Colgan
Katherine Maguire's eldest child Rory is played by actor Michael Colgan.
Rory has an OCD condition which makes him not want to leave the house, which has left his character feeling very isolated.
Rory, or 'Raw Hands' as his family call him, has an intense knowledge of the law as well as a photographic memory, which helps him acting as the Maguire family lawyer.
Stacey Maguire (Barrett) played by Kelly Gough
Actress Kelly Gough plays pregnant character Stacey Maguire, the youngest daughter of Katherine Maguire.
Stacey is approached by Marcella at the beginning of series three, which leads her to get to know more about her family's business operations, in order to protect her husband Martin McCann.
Bobby Barrett played by Martin McCann
Actor Martin McCann portrays the role of Bobby Barrett in series 3, the husband of Stacey Maguire.
Although Bobby tries his best to prove himself within the Maguire family, he is the 'interloper' and 'punchbag' within the family, and despite now having a major status, he struggles within his position.
Lawrence Corrigan played by Paul Kennedy
Lawrence plays Marcella's love interest in series three! They've been in a relationship for ten months and Lawrence is 'smitten'.
Where is Marcella filmed?
Series 1 of Marcella was filmed in Tower Hamlets and Newham in London.
Series 2 of Marcella was also filmed in London, but bosses did branch out to various popular landmarks, including Battersea Park, Notting Hill, Westminster, Marylebone, Battersea, Maple Cross, Brixton Underground Station and Little Venice.
Series 3 of Marcella was filmed entirely on location in and around Belfast.
Is there going to be a Marcella series 4?
Without giving away any spoilers, it's not looking likely that there could be a fourth series, even though series three ended with fans hoping there could be more.
Anna has previously explained in an interview with Hello Magazine that the series was intended to be a trilogy at its start.
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