TV star Tompkinson eyes film roles

Stephen Tompkinson boarded a yacht in Cannes to promote his first lead film role in a gritty crime thriller - and said he's keen for more film roles.

The DCI Banks and Wild At Heart actor climbed aboard the boat at the harbourside in the French resort, where the 65th film festival is taking place, to drum up international sales for British-made Harrigan, which will premiere in the UK this autumn.

"This is my first time in Cannes and it's fantastic, very glamorous," he said.

"Harrigan's themes are universal. It's like a western but set in the 1970s and the Harrigan character is like a sheriff taking on the bad guys in a bid to clean up the streets."

Stephen, who returns to the UK next week to continue filming the latest DCI Banks series, says he would like to make more films.

"This is certainly a direction I would like to see my career developing in and Harrigan has been a marvellous role to play," he said.

The story is based on real-life Tyneside cop Arthur McKenzie who wrote the script.

Harrigan follows his experiences as he rose through the ranks of vice, beat, CID and Serious Crime Squad before retiring after 31 years as Detective Inspector in charge of the toughest division of Newcastle's West End.

He enjoyed a second career as an award-winning scriptwriter and Harrigan is his first full-length movie.

Stephen said: "Arthur is an absolute legend. He's an incredible character and I'm honoured to try and fill the shoes of an amazing man who was a hard but compassionate policeman during a tremendously difficult period but really respected on the streets."