The BBC’s latest thriller part-shot in the North East will hit TV screens this week.

BBC bosses say the series, called ‘Boat Story’ promises ‘twists and turns’, ‘high-octance action sequences’, and ‘off-beat humour’.

The drama will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday (November 19) at 9pm.

When two strangers discover a haul of illegal drugs on a washed-up boat on Redcar beach, luck soon turns to misfortune as they become the targets of a vengeful mob boss, his hitman and the police.

The Northern Echo: The drama was filmed on Redcar beach last November.The drama was filmed on Redcar beach last November. (Image: Picture: RAY SIMPSON)

The six-part drama follows the fortunes of two ordinary people, both suffering hardship, who discover the washed-up boat and drug hail and have some big choices to make.

For unsuspecting leads Janet (played by Daisy Haggard), a factory worker running low on money and fighting for custody of her beloved stepson and Samuel (Paterson Joseph), whose crippling gambling addiction has left him being chased by bailiffs and moving his family to the North East, the pair can’t believe their luck as they agree to sell it and split the cash.

See the trailer for BBC's Boat Story

WARNING: This video contains strong language. 

But on their tail is a sharp suited gangster known as ‘The Tailor’ played by Tchéky Karyo who starred as Julien Baptiste in the drama of the same name.

The Northern Echo: Tchéky Karyo, whose acting credits include Baptiste and The Missing, stars as 'The Tailor'.Tchéky Karyo, whose acting credits include Baptiste and The Missing, stars as 'The Tailor'. (Image: BBC)

BAFTA-winner Joanna Scanlan, Craig Fairbrass, and Phil Daniels also take up rules in the series, which comes from a team involved in a host of gripping dramas including The Tourist, and Liar.

The Northern Echo: Joanna Scanlan (After Love, Notes on A Scandal), and Craig Fairbrass (One Piece, Villain and Muscle)Joanna Scanlan (After Love, Notes on A Scandal), and Craig Fairbrass (One Piece, Villain and Muscle) (Image: BBC)

The opening scenes as the pair make the discovery where shot in Redcar last November when bemused locals spotted the grounded prop fishing boat on Redcar beach after it was lowered into place by a crane.

Film crews were spotted with the latest equipment including drones.

The Northern Echo: The boat caused quite the stir when it appeared on the beach.The boat caused quite the stir when it appeared on the beach. (Image: Picture: RAY SIMPSON)

Other scenes are shot around Yorkshire including York and Leeds

Writer and director Jack Williams said: “We had pictures in our mind of where it took place. We wanted somewhere by the coast, but it wasn't going to be the depiction of a traditional British TV coastal detective drama.

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“We started to consider how to get a touch of that, but also somewhere urban that can also be rural, and we looked at a lot of different places.

“We started from the coast and began working back and as we looked around Yorkshire and particularly Leeds and York, we found it offered a massive variety of locations to stitch together.

“We wanted something that felt interesting and a little different to what we've seen before.

“There is no town in England that offered absolutely everything that you see in this show. But it's a slightly storybook version of it, which again, felt on point thematically with what we're trying to do.”