Protection viewers have been left doing a double take after they’ve realised where they have seen the actor who plays DI Richard Bewley before
Protection viewers have been left doing a double take after they’ve realised where they have seen the actor who plays DI Richard Bewley before
ITV’s Protection viewers were stunned as they finally placed where they’d seen DI Richard Bewley before.
The fresh thriller made waves again on screens Sunday night (March 23), captivating audiences since its earlier release this month. Protection zooms in on Detective Inspector Liz Nyles, depicted by Siobhan Finneran.
The DI is embroiled in a witness protection unit scandal after a family under her watch comes under attack. With Siobhan Finneran leading the cast, there is also Katherine Kelly, Barry Ward, Nadine Marshall, and Jodie Price,
However, it’s Andrew Knott’s appearance that’s sparked chatter amongst fans. Viewers have been hit with the realisation that Andrew, playing the role of DI Bewley, was once prominent as Dirtbox on the BBC cult favourite Gavin and Stacey.
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Having had a stint from 2007 to 2024, Andrew even featured in the smash-hit Christmas special last year.
Fans took to social media to share their surprise at spotting Andrew Knott in ITV’s Protection, with one posting a snapshot of his character and pleading, “Can anyone tell me what he has been in please it’s bugging me.”, reports the Mirror.
Quick to respond, another noted: “It’s Dirtbox from Gavin and Stacey!” Others expressed their recognition, with comments like “Thought I recognised Dirtbox!” and “No way it is.”
Andrew has a rich history of roles, including his part in the 1993 hit ‘The Secret Garden’ as Dickon Sowerby and appearances in popular series such as ‘Black Mirror’, ‘Silent Witness’, and ‘Grantchester’. Fans of ‘Gavin and Stacey’ will recognise him from his time on the show, as well as his latest role in ‘Protection’.
While ‘Protection’ is set to air weekly on ITV, viewers eager to dive into the drama can watch all six episodes now on ITVX, indulging in a full binge-watching session.
The gripping plot of ‘Protection’ is described as follows: “Based on the first-hand experiences of a long serving witness protection officer, Protection is about what happens when the system breaks down.”
The narrative centres around Detective Inspector Liz Nyles who finds herself embroiled in a serious breach of protocol. Compromised by an affair with a colleague, she’s nonetheless resolute in her quest to expose the corruption within her unit.
Her journey to redemption involves not only clearing her name and that of her lover but also ensuring the safety of her witnesses.
“Even if they don’t always deserve it. Navigating the morally-grey, clandestine world of witness protection, Liz’s mission to find the truth will take her deep into the heart of the criminal underbelly and beyond as she becomes more and more torn between caring for her family, her loyalty to her lover and her duty as a police officer.”
