Passenger creator Andrew Buchan confirms when new ITV drama is set after viewer confusion

Virgin Radio

25 Mar 2024, 14:30

Andrew Buchan, the mind behind ITV's latest gripping drama, has revealed that the warped sense of time has a purpose on the show after some speculation about when the series is set.

Passenger follows former Met Police Detective Riya Ajunwa (Wunmi Mosaku) as she deals with life working in the fictional Northern village of Chadder Vale. 

Riya’s unfulfilling experience changes completely, however, after the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of a local girl seemingly triggers more strange and horrific events around the suspiciously unsuspicious community.

With the first episode airing last week (Sunday 24th March), lots of fans have been raving about the mind-bending thriller, but there has been some question over when the crime thriller is set, given that fans have already clocked an 80s-style video game as well as older generation cars being driven. Despite all the seemingly period details, all the characters also use modern-day phones. 

One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “#passenger #ITV what's With all the OLD cars, like mini metro police car? What year is this set? Can't be 90s as they have mobiles? #odd.”

“#Passenger was really good. Giving stranger things vibes. I’m confused about the time period tho, when’s it set? Why is the police car an old Metro?,” another commented. 

Well, virginradio.co.uk sat down with Passenger’s creator Buchan, who you may also recognise from the likes of Broadchurch, The Crown and Better, and he explained that the confusion over the time period represents much more than just the minor details.

He explained: “You’ve probably seen, with the cars, that we're using the kind of old Americana costumes that [costume designer] Darren Finch brilliantly came up with. It’s brilliantly unusual and we didn’t feel like we’ve seen that in the North before. 

“A few people have asked me about when it's set,” Andrew said, before he confirmed: “It's set in the present day, but all of those things that I've just mentioned, are meant to give off the idea that it's a small community that is clinging to its past, and not progressing, and is afraid to progress. 

“All those little details that Darren came up with, and every other department came up with…they all helped all those details, they sprinkled on there or helped to hopefully give off that impression.”

With one mystery down, how does Andrew feel about the overnight success Passenger has experienced? 

“Utterly, utterly surreal,” the actor and writer shared. “It's surreal that it's happening now and mildly thrilling and mildly nerve wracking and all of the above.”

Passenger continues Sunday and Monday nights at 9pm on ITV and ITVX. All six episodes of Passenger are also available to stream on ITVX now.