The Jetty, an intriguing new crime thriller, is set to premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Monday 15 July 2024. The show centres on Detective Ember Manning, played by Jenna Coleman, whose investigations lead her on a journey of self-reflection and discovery. The series explores the connection between an arson case and a cold case involving a missing person and an illicit relationship, all set against the backdrop of a scenic lake town.
Cat Jones, the writer, creator, and executive producer, revealed that “The Jetty is about a detective called Ember Manning, who starts to investigate an arson in the town she lives in and finds that it’s connected to a local sex offender… Ember starts to investigate the connections between the cases and is forced to reflect upon her own past and teenage years.” Jones emphasised that the show explores the relationship between sexism and violence against women, highlighting that “We don’t live in a world where women and girls are safe and secure… The Jetty is really a story about memory and reinventing yourself, as well as change and growth.”
Jenna Coleman shared her thoughts on portraying Ember Manning, describing her as “quite prickly, stubborn, proud and free-willed. She’s also very warm and loyal. And I also think she’s really funny. Cat Jones’ writing of her is very sardonic, dry, and she’s not easily impressed.” Coleman revealed that Ember is on a journey of self-discovery, especially after the death of her husband a year before the series begins. She elaborated on Ember’s relationships, stating that “Ember had her daughter when she was a teenager, so they’re not too far apart in age and there’s a lovely, really interesting dynamic there… Her relationship with her side-kick Hitch… is really fun… Her relationship with her deceased husband is interesting, and a key focus of the show, as Ember spends the series reframing her relationship with him, putting a new lens on it in retrospect.”
Archie Renaux, who plays Hitch, Ember’s rookie detective partner, described his character as “someone who’s young at heart. He hasn’t quite reached the level of maturity yet, but he’s like a puppy dog who’ll do anything to impress.” Renaux highlighted the importance of the scenic lake town setting, adding that “it makes it the perfect place for this story, because it’s beautiful but there’s also a sense of mystery and elusiveness to it that’s quite unnerving. The setting mirrors Ember’s relationship with her past.” He teased that “It always keeps you guessing. It takes you down a lot of dead ends, and gets you thinking that you know all the answers… but then you’ll be taken somewhere completely new and realise you’ve been fooled!”
Laura Marcus and Bo Bragason portray Caitlin Owen and Amy Knightley, two teenage girls with a complex dynamic. Marcus described her character as “a natural introvert and far more shy. She’s essentially a moth to a flame when it comes to Amy. She’s completely drawn to her because she’s the first person that she can express her queerness to.” Bragason, on the other hand, portrayed Amy as “very complex… She’s young, wild and free, has a great spirit to her, and is also unapologetically herself.” They both agreed that “it’s important for younger audiences who aren’t necessarily comfortable with their sexuality to see there are people who are struggling with that side of themselves too, and that it’s all about accepting who you are and becoming your authentic self.”
Amelia Bullmore takes on the role of Sylvia, Ember’s mother and Hannah’s grandmother. She shared that “Sylvia is spiritual and creative, yet disappointed with her life… She had Ember when she was quite young, and Ember had Hannah when she was really young, so they’re all quite unusually close together in age… Sylvia doesn’t feel like she had many choices for how her life would play out…” Bullmore elaborated on Sylvia’s journey in the show, stating that “as Ember is looking into her own past, which Sylvia is implicated in, she goes on a journey of being forced to be accountable, which isn’t really in Sylvia’s nature.”
Weruche Opia portrays Riz, a crime podcaster and journalist. She described her character as “a journalist… She’s a crime podcaster who focuses on missing people and she’s taken it upon herself to investigate the cold case of a girl who went missing 17 years ago… There’s also a question of whether the truth will be of benefit or extremely detrimental. The show is about toeing the line of morality.” Opia emphasised the importance of addressing crimes against women and the issue of grooming, stating that “it’s about time that we address the fact that what was deemed acceptable back in the day wasn’t necessarily right.”
Marialy Rivas, the series director, shared her vision for The Jetty, “it’s a detective meets coming-of-age series… It’s different to other crime dramas as its storylines act as a conversation between the past and the present.” She aimed to create “an ominous feel to the nature and the beauty of the setting… I wanted to find things that look real, but elevate them through the filmmaking.” Rivas believed that the series would appeal to a broad range of ages due to its relatable characters and universal themes.
Elizabeth Kilgariff, the executive producer, provided insight into what drew her to the show, stating that “on the surface The Jetty has all of the really enjoyable delicious things of a crime show… but essentially it’s a really clever, interesting portrayal of a woman dealing with grief and having to reassess her life up until now.” She emphasised that “it is about sexual morality, consent, coming of age, grooming, identity and relationships but it wears all of those things very lightly… I think that audiences can watch this show and love it on one level, but then realise that what they’ve been watching, they’ve perhaps been seeing in the wrong way.”
The Jetty Premieres on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Monday 15 July 2024.
