‘Merlin’ star Colin Morgan is the latest Irish actor to join the cast of ‘Quirke’, it has been announced.
Armagh-born Morgan, who played boy wizard Merlin in the BBC fantasy series for five years, has been cast as Jimmy Minor in the three-parter, which is based on Irish writer John Banville’s novels.
Writing under the pseudonym Benjamin Black, Banville’s Jimmy Minor character is a reporter who takes an interest in Quirke’s daughter Phoebe. Gabriel Byrne plays pathologist Quirke, while Aisling Franciosi plays his daughter.
Morgan is expected to begin filming a pub scene in Dublin on Monday, which will feature in the third episode ‘Elegy for April’. The role will be his first acting job since he filmed his final ‘Merlin’ scenes last year. The last series, series five, aired on BBC in December 2012.
Also joining Morgan on the ‘Quirke’ set next week is Dublin-born actor Chris Newman, who has been cast as Minor’s rugby fan friend. Newman, best known for his roles in ‘Song For a Raggy Boy’ and RTÉ series ‘The Clinic’, is currently shooting ‘Jack & Ralph Plan A Murder’, and is gearing up for his Abbey debut which starts in February.
’Quirke’ has been in production in Dublin since November 19. The story is set in 1950s Dublin and follows pathologist Quirke as he investigates the deaths of a number of people, while trying to piece his family life back together.
The drama is a co-production between Ireland’s Element Pictures and Tyrone Productions and the BBC. Ed Guiney, Joan Egan and Jessica Pope are all producing, while John Alexander is directing.
Irish writer Conor McPherson and English writer Andrew Davies have adapted Banville’s novels for the screen, while additional Irish cast includes Stanley Townsend and Nick Dunning.
Filming on ‘Quirke’ is ongoing until February. The BBC said the series is expected to hit screens later this year.
