James Cosmo who stars in the new BBC thriller Nightsleeper which is set on the Glasgow to London train has revealed he once got arrested on the same journey.
The Game of Thrones legend has described the time he was nicked by the British Transport Police for “lamping” a drunk who was harassing two female passengers on the Caledonian Sleeper.
But after the girls explained what had happened the cops let Cosmo back on the train and arrested the thug who had been causing all the bother.
James, 76, who plays a retired train driver on the BBC One drama which has had viewers on the edge of their seats, said: “It’s ironic but when I was a young pup I got arrested on the London to Glasgow train and then de-arrested.
“A guy who got on the train was very drunk and started annoying these two girls who were sitting opposite me. When it began to get really out of hand I clocked the bloke.
“We were just pulling into Carlisle and the British Transport Police came onboard and took me off the train. They didn’t cuff me but they told me they were arresting me for assault.
“The train was held in the station and cops got on to talk to the passengers. Once they had spoken to the two girls they realised what had happened and arrested the drunk instead.”
James, who was born in Dumbarton, added: “After they had de-arrested me they let me get back on the train. I sat down and the guard came up to me and asked me to come with him – I thought: “Oh no what’s going to happen now?”
“But I needn’t have worried as he put me in first class and I continued my journey in the lap of luxury. I was only 25 at the time but I remember it like it was yesterday.
“It’s funny that 50 years later I am starring in a drama set on the same train service and this journey is eventful too but this time it is even more sinister.”
In the series, which is now available on BBCiPlayer, Joe Cole plays off-duty cop Joe Roag who battles to save the lives of his fellow passengers on the Glasgow to London service after it is hijacked in a cyber attack.
Part fast-moving heart-in-mouth action-adventure and part twisty-turny whodunnit detective story, it’s a rollercoaster drama where no-one is ever quite who they seem.
James, whose Scots all-star cast mates include Sharon Small, Sharon Rooney, Alex Ferns, Leah MacRae and Scott Reid, said: “There are so many twists and turns it’s terrific. It’s one of the most exciting projects I have been involved in. It’s the perfect mix of Speed and 24.
“It is set in real time and so fast paced you feel like you are on the train with the characters and the feeling of claustrophobia is real. It’s full of tension which makes for good TV.
“It’s quite possible with today’s technology that a train could be hackjacked which is a scary thought. I travel by train all the time and luckily it hasn’t put me off. Saying that, I have started checking to make sure there is driver in the cab.”
As an ex-train driver, James’s character Fraser Warren is a vital part of the storyline and ends up lending a hand when things go really wrong.
Cosmo, whose huge list of acting credits include Braveheart, Sons of Anarchy and Highlander, said: “I felt like the oldest action hero in the world. At the age I am I never thought I would be throwing myself under a moving train. I thought I would go into graceful retirement but it hasn’t worked out that way and I’m glad as there is a lot of life left in me yet.
“I had great fun with all the cast and the directors were first class. I struck up a really lovely friendship with actress Leah MacRae who plays my daughter-in-law. We message all the time now and she calls me papa.
“Everything about this drama just came together so well. It was a real triumph for everyone involved.”
James, whose Storyman whisky is proving a hit in the US and China, is enjoying a break after a very busy start to 2024. The dad-of-two, who used to work at Arnott Young shipbreakers in Dalmuir, West Dunbartonshire, said: “I don’t have any filming to do in the immediate future as I was doing four jobs at the same time earlier this year which was ludicrous.
“I was doing Nighstleeper, a boxing film called Salvable with Shia LaBeouf in Wales, a Netflix series called The Choice in London and a three -parter with Martin Compston called The Fear up in Glasgow.
“I’m taking advantage of this hiatus to go and catch some brown trout on the fly. Life is good.”
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