Nightsleeper review: A high-speed blast from start to finish

A high-speed action-thriller taking place on a British train might seem like an oxymoron. Given the frequent strikes, cancellations, and delays, one might expect the situation to be more about "inaction" or "work stoppages." Fortunately, the first episode of BBC One's Nightsleeper turned out to be an exhilarating ride from beginning to end.

It was like a train version of the airplane hijacking thrillers that have become popular recently, such as Apple TV+’s "Hijack," Channel 4’s "Hostage," and ITV’s "Red Eye." In my opinion, this fast-paced and creative six-part series about a Glasgow-to-London train being seized remotely by hackers (referred to as a “hack-jacking” in the show) stands out as superior to the airborne stories. The unique setting was more original and thoroughly developed by writer Nick Leather.

Joe Cole, known for his role in "Gangs of London," portrayed an off-duty police officer named Joe Roag. The character first appears while attempting to stop a handbag theft on a train platform in Glasgow. However, this mugging attempt was actually a distraction set up by cyber-terrorists who were inserting their equipment into the train's operating system.

The hackers had disrupted the train's mobile service, prompting Joe to borrow a satellite phone from another passenger, an oil rig worker, so he could reach out to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). In a twist of fate related to the rail scenario, Abby Ayrgarth (played by Alexandra Roach), the acting head of the NCSC, was on the Gatwick Express on her way to a delayed holiday. Despite her plans, she and Joe collaborated from a distance to combat the "hack-jackers."

However, Joe wasn’t exactly what he appeared to be. The NCSC discovered that he was a fugitive – a former Metropolitan police detective on the run. Given that he shares the spotlight as a hero in Nightsleeper, it's clear that Joe fits the mold of the classic character seen since John Buchan’s work – the Richard Hannay-type figure who is falsely accused and must prove his innocence while also stepping up to save the situation.

In the meantime, Abby wished to reach out to a former colleague from the NCSC who had fallen from grace. This unconventional tech mastermind is portrayed by the wonderfully disheveled David Threlfall, who seems to channel the unruly and uncouth Jackson Lamb from Slow Horses, played by Gary Oldman. However, Abby soon found herself facing an unexplained ban on enlisting his help.

During the incident, the out-of-control train managed to reach its initial planned stop at Motherwell. Police quickly ushered most of the passengers onto the platform. However, before they could fully evacuate the train, the hackers took control and locked the doors remotely, causing the train to depart once more.

We had entered the familiar scenario of a disaster film, featuring a smaller group of squabbling personalities. Among them were Sharon Small playing the Transport Minister—quite the coincidence that she was aboard the hacked train—Sharon Rooney as a catering worker, James Cosmo as a former train operator, Ruth Madeley portraying a passenger in a wheelchair, and Adam Mitchell as a young boy who had lost track of his parents.

The story progressed at a consistently rapid speed, infused with a touch of dry wit. “Is there anything out of the ordinary?” Abby inquired of Joe when he initially got in touch with the NCSC.

“The train is actually running, which is quite rare these days,” he said. Then, the terrorists revealed themselves by taking over the announcement system at London’s Victoria Station. “Attention passengers,” they started, playfully using the familiar phrasing of automated station announcements. “Attention passengers, I am now in charge.” But who were they and what did they want?

I approached Nightsleeper with minimal hopes, as the basic summary seemed predictably unoriginal. However, the show is shaping up to be a cleverly crafted, fast-paced adventure – fingers crossed it doesn’t hit a snag around episode four. After all, unlike train passengers, viewers won't have any compensation option for their letdowns.