The Line of Duty star is no stranger to breaking barriers, but will he be able to break the US? Jessop and his film-maker brother pitch a movie to a hotshot producer to find out
ommy Jessop certainly isn’t shy about trying new things. Viewers may recognise him from his gripping portrayal of murder suspect Terry Boyle. It was made all the more memorable by the fact that it was an exciting and multi-faceted role – something that is rarely afforded to actors with learning disabilities.
He still has a few tiny aspirations up his sleeve, though. “My new dream is to be the next Bond,” we see Jessop announce while onstage receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Arts at the University of Winchester. Narrowing his eyes, he turns to the side and puts his index fingers together in the classic Bond pose: “James Bond. Shaken, but not stirred.”
Expectations are pretty high, then, in this charming and insightful documentary following Jessop and his older brother, film-maker Will, as they attempt to turn Tommy’s dream of playing the hero in a movie into reality. “One thing you should know about Tommy is that he always gives himself a 10/10 job,” Will says with a hint of pride, before admitting, “I’ve learned to never underestimate him.”
Jessop’s confidence and can-do attitude underpin and uplift the programme throughout and stop it from being a story of woe – he’s not looking for sympathy, he’s just looking for a fair chance. Despite his critically acclaimed performance in Line of Duty, the actor reveals that work has been thin on the ground since it aired two years ago. “What we want is for him to have the same opportunities as any other actor, and not be sidelined because he has Down’s syndrome,” explains his mother, Jane.
He is advised by an industry colleague that he would need to write his own story to really grab the attention of Hollywood bigwigs, so he starts brainstorming. He comes up with a superhero film concept in which the bad guy wants to eliminate people with Down’s syndrome, and the hero – a part he initially gives to his teddy bear, but later reveals he would like to play himself – has to stop him.
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