John Thomson filming scenes for The Wanted Man in prison that held Oscar Wilde
Former Fast Show and Cold Feet star John Thomson has revealed he will be playing a prisoner in new Apple TV+ series The Wanted Man, which stars Hugh Laurie, Thandiwe Newton, Fionn Whitehead and Gina McKee.
John Thomson is to star in new Apple TV+ drama The Wanted Man - and he has been filming scenes in the jail that held Oscar Wilde.
The 56-year-old actor has been cast as a prisoner in the eight-episode thriller which stars Hugh Laurie, 66, as Felix Carmichael, the elusive and powerful head of notorious British crime syndicate 'The Capital'.
Untouchable for 20 years, Carmichael is finally apprehended, but while he’s held in the infamous Staplehurst prison, it becomes clear that he’s been betrayed by a member of his own empire, setting Carmichael on a revenge mission.
Thomson has been filming his scenes with Laurie at HMS Prison Reading, the jail where playwright Wilde was incarcerated after being convicted of gross indecency with other men in 1895 and sentenced to two years' hard labour in prison.
Revealing his new role on the Scarred For Life podcast, Laurie said: “I've just done a drama called The Wanted Man at Reading jail where Oscar Wilde was imprisoned.
“That's out next year on Apple TV.
"I did that with Hugh Laurie, I'm an inmate.”
The Wanted Man also stars Thandiwe Newton, Fionn Whitehead and Gina McKee.
It is not the only role John has landed since his departure from Coronation Street.
Thomson - who returned to Weatherfield as as Jesse Chadwick to woo and marry Gail Platt, as part of Helen Worth’s final soap storyline - will be seen in Jimmy Carr’s Downton Abbey parody film Fackham Hall.
Former Fast Show star John plays a prisoner called Bill in the film which has been described as a spoof on Downton Abbey in the style of Airplane! and the Monty Python films.
The movie which has been penned by Jimmy Carr, Patrick Carr and writing team The Dawson Brothers - comprised of brothers Steve Dawson and Andrew Dawson and childhood friend Tim Inman.
Discussing his role, John said: "I’m working with the Dawson Brothers now on a thing called Fackham Hall. Which is a Downton Abbey p***-take. We’re filming that near Liverpool, I play a prisoner called Bill.
“It’s written by Jimmy Carr and the Dawson Brothers.”
Fackham Hall also stars Ben Radcliffe, Damian Lewis, Tom Felton, Thomasin McKenzie and Anna Maxwell Martin.
