ITV reveals cast for new World War 2 drama ‘The Singapore Grip’

It’s been announced who’s starring in the new TV adaptation of The Singapore Grip.

Oscar winning screenwriter and playwright Christopher Hampton (Atonement, Dangerous Liaisons) is adapting Booker Prize winner J.G. Farrell’s classic novel for ITV.

Set during World War Two, the new six-part mini-series from the makers of Poldark will follow a British family living in Singapore at the time of the Japanese invasion.

The Singapore Grip began filming in South East Asia earlier this year.

Luke Treadaway (Ordeal By Innocence) will lead the cast as Matthew Webb, who’s described as a “reluctant hero and innocent abroad.”

David Morrissey (Britannia, The Walking Dead) is playing ruthless rubber merchant Walter Blackett, with Game of Thrones star Charles Dance playing his business partner Webb.

They’ll be joined by Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous) as Walter’s wife Sylvia Blackett, Colm Meaney (Star Trek: The Next Generation) as Major Brendan Archer, Luke Newberry (In The Flesh) as Walter’s son Monty, Bart Edwards (Peep Show) as Captain James Ehrendorf, Elizabeth Tan (Coronation Street) as Vera Chiang, and Christophe Guybet (Falco) as Dupigny.

The official synopsis reads: “Singapore, 1941. Rubber merchant Walter Blackett, his wife Sylvia, ruthless daughter Joan and spoilt son Monty live a life of luxury, seemingly untouched by the troubles in Europe.

“With Walter’s business partner Mr Webb’s health failing, Walter needs to ensure that the future of their firm is secure. He decides that Webb’s son Matthew is the perfect match for Joan, and Joan is happy to agree, but Matthew’s idealism leaves Walter increasingly suspicious as Matthew himself falls under the spell of Vera Chiang, a mysterious Chinese refugee…”

The Singapore Grip will air in the UK on ITV in late 2019 or early 2020.

J.G. Farrell’s novel is available to buy on Amazon.