Jing Lusi has paid a heartfelt tribute to her new Red Eye co-star Martin Compston as the ITV thriller prepares to return for a second series following the exit of Richard Armitage.
The actress will reprise her role as DS Hana Li in series two of Red Eye, which proved to be a major ratings success when it debuted on ITV, attracting millions of viewers with its high-concept, aviation-set mystery.
Reflecting on why the first series resonated so strongly with audiences, Ms Lusi said: “I think it was just so different from what people are used to seeing! Agatha Christie on a plane? It was very ambitious.
"It was on a level to what people are used to seeing in American stuff on British terrestrial TV on a Sunday night… it was a different ball game.”
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Jing Lusi on set of ITV Red Eye
|ITV
She added that the response to the show exceeded her expectations, particularly as it marked her first time leading a series.
“It was overwhelmingly positive. Which, as my first time leading, meant the world to me,” she said.
“We worked really hard and loved making Season 1, so to have such great feedback was very moving and rewarding.”
While Mr Armitage starred as accused doctor Matthew Nolan in the first series, the new run introduces Mr Compston as Clay Brody, a US Regional Security Officer with a complicated shared past with Hana.
The relationship between Hana and Brody is central to the new series
|ITV
Ms Lusi admitted she was “super excited and delighted” to return, but stressed she would only do so if the story justified it.
“I obviously hoped there would be more after we wrapped Season one, but I also said, ‘Let’s come back if there’s a story, let’s not come back for the sake of it,’” she explained.
“When Bad Wolf told me what the concept was for Season 2, I thought, ‘Wow this is ambitious! I can't wait to see how that plays out!’ Getting to go on another thrilling ride with a fantastic cast and crew and build on a character I love is an actor’s dream.”
Series two moves away from the confined setting of an extradition flight, opening with a murder investigation at Heathrow that draws Hana into a much wider international conspiracy.
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Richard Armitage and Jing Lusi on set of ITV Red Eye
|ITV
“At the beginning, it seems like quite a simple case of a diplomatic courier coming back from America, being found dead in the men's toilets at Heathrow,” Ms Lusi said.
“Hana is called in, on her birthday of all days, because she’s a workaholic, to investigate, and that is when she meets Brody who suspects it could be foul play.”
The dynamic between Hana and Brody is central to the new series, with Ms Lusi revealing the pair have a troubled history dating back to police training school.
“Hana and Brody were at police training school together. They were partnered up,” she said.
“Brody, who is played by the wonderful Martin Compston, has demons of his own that he's dealing with and his behaviour significantly affected Hana.”
She added: “Brody left without any explanation; he just ghosted her. Perhaps deep down, Hana thinks this held her back professionally and she has had to strive harder to get where she is now.”
Ms Lusi was full of praise for Compston, describing her experience working alongside him as a highlight of the new series. “I really loved working with Martin,” she said.
The actress added: “It was so fun and to have a different dynamic with the male guest lead.”
Richard Armitage on set of ITV Red Eye
|ITV
While Mr Armitage’s character is not returning, the introduction of Mr Compston’s Clay Brody is set to add fresh tension.
Brody and Hana Li share a fraught history dating back to their time at police college, forcing the pair to work together despite unresolved animosity.
Behind the scenes, creator and writer Peter A Dowling remains at the helm, with Kieron Hawkes directing the first three episodes and Camilla Strøm Henriksen taking charge of the latter half of the series.