EXCLUSIVE: First look at Sky’s gripping new thriller Fortitude starring Michael Gambon, Sofie Grabol and Christopher Eccleston

Sponsored by Sky Atlantic

• Filmed off the coast of Iceland, the frozen drama is set in the Arctic Circle
• Stellar cast features Christopher Eccleston, Sofie Gråbøl and Stanley Tucci
• Sir Michael Gambon also appears as long-time resident Henry Tyson
• The first episode of Fortitude will air on Sky Atlantic on January 29 at 9pm

Surrounded by the savage beauty of the frozen landscape, a small town in the Arctic Circle is one of the safest places on earth.

The picturesque town has long been free from any sort of violent crime - until now, that is.

That is the premise of Fortitude, the new drama that follows locals as they try to unravel a mystery which threatens not only the future of the town itself, but the well-being of everyone in the small, close-knit community.

Airing January 29 on Sky Atlantic, Fortitude is a gripping drama, set in a small town near the Arctic Circle

The local police chief, Sheriff Dan Anderssen (Richard Dormer) investigates alongside Eugene Morton (Stanley Tucci), a detective who flies into Fortitude so fast that questions soon begin to swirl about just how much he really knows about the crime

Soon, each character finds reasons to mistrust the other.

The Arctic darkness gives way to endless summer nights, but the once-idyllic community struggles to make sense of the horror that has been let loose.

The picturesque drama was filmed off the coast of Iceland. Pictured: Michael Gambon during a scene

Stanley Tucci plays DCI Eugene Morton, who arrives in town to help following a chilling violent crime

Among the strong ensemble cast, Jessica Raine (second from left) plays newcomer and mother Jules Sutton

Filmed on the coast of Iceland, a strong ensemble cast makes up the rest of the key players, among them, Jessica Raine, Richard Dormer and Nicholas Pinnock.

Can't wait until January 29? Meet the characters here... 

MICHAEL GAMBON AS HENRY TYSON

An award-winning photographer famous for capturing the animals and landscape of the Arctic, Henry is a powerful and intelligent man who has lived in Fortitude for as long as anyone can remember.

Independent and proud, he has recently been diagnosed with liver cancer, a condition that he's been making worse with his heavy drinking.

His alcoholism is a tactic used to help him block out the guilt that he harbours over a fatal incident that he was involved in long ago.

'It's fascinating,' Gambon says. 'And it varies so much for me.'

'In some scenes, Henry is p****d out of his head and in others, he's quite soft and gentle.

'He's in this complex world and has seen a terrible thing happen - as it gets worse, he gets even more drunk.'

Henry is also facing the prospect of exile - back to the mainland or even to the UK - as there are no facilities equipped to deal with the terminally ill on the island. 

Harry Potter's Sir Michael Gambon plays the role of Henry Tyson.

CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON AS PROFESSOR CHARLIE STODDART

An eminent scientist, Professor Stoddart is head of the Arctic Research Centre, which is based in the small town of Fortitude. 

The professor is in charge of the environmental impact assessment for Governor Odegard's glacier hotel development.

The potentially lucrative project that could save the town from ruin hinges on his findings.

'He makes a discovery which is every natural scientist's dream and he's desperate to protect it,' Eccleston says. 'To a certain extent, he represents the world of nature and idealism.'

'[The Governor] comes into conflict with Charlie because she's very much concerned with the world of commerce and business.'

When local children make an unexpected discovery on the island, the respected professor is catapulted into the centre of the most significant event in Fortitude's history.

Christopher Eccleston, known for his role as Matt Jamison in The Leftovers, stars as Professor Charlie Stoddart.

SOFIE GRÅBØL AS GOVERNOR HILDUR ODEGARD

Fortitude's governor has lived in the region for 20 years, having first visited on her honeymoon with her husband Eric (Björn Hlynur Haraldsson).

While Eric has long been content working as a policeman, Hildur threw herself into politics, where her main concern is currently the town's ongoing decline.

Her flagship project - three years in the making - is the development of a glacier hotel outside Fortitude. She hopes that such an undertaking will boost tourism and guarantee the town's continued existence when the once-thriving mines are forced to close.

'Because of the great responsibility Odegard carries as a governor, she has to maintain a facade, which becomes harder for her along the way because she is under pressure from so many directions,' Gråbøl says.

'She has to keep not only herself but the whole community together.'

Hildur Odegard is played by Sofie Gråbøl, a Danish actress best known for her role as Detective Sarah Lund in The Killing.

STANLEY TUCCI AS DCI EUGENE MORTON

A detective with the British police force, DCI Morton is a former FBI agent who has been based in the UK for over 25 years. He opted to stay after falling in love with a local woman when he was investigating at Lockerbie. 

Morton is summoned to Fortitude following the town's gruesome murder, and is single-minded in his pursuit of the truth - not caring who he upsets in the course of the investigation. 

His methods quickly gain him enemies in the small town, including ongoing hostility from the local police.

'He's the ultimate outsider and Fortitude isn't a place that welcomes outsiders easily or warmly,' Tucci explains. 'He's there to investigate this murder and it's like pulling teeth to get information out of anyone.'

Stanley Tucci, who most recently starred in the blockbuster film franchise, The Hunger Games, plays the tole of DCI Eugene Morton. 

RICHARD DORMER AS DAN ANDERSSEN

Dan Anderssen is the Sheriff in the small town of Fortitude. An area with barely any crime, his job consists almost entirely of undertaking search and rescue missions.

Dan is known around town for his quiet charisma and strong physical presence. As such, it should come as no surprise that he's well-liked by the townspeople.

Despite his charm, Dan remains single- though is intensely attracted to Elena Ledesma, a Spanish woman who has recently moved to the island.

'Dan has an unrequited love which drives him to behave the way he does,' Dormer explains.

'Ultimately, he is a good man who does bad things, but he does them for the right reasons.'

When we meet Dan, he's wrestling with drunkenness and a deep sense of self-loathing, as he's been keeping a dark secret that could have devastating repercussions.

Dan Anderssen is played by actor Richard Dormer, best known for his role as Beric Dondarrion on Game of Thrones.

JESSICA RAINE AS JULES SUTTER

A newcomer to Fortitude, Jules recently moved to the island with her husband Frank and son Liam (Darwin Brokenbro) when the ex-military man took a new job as a search-and-rescue pilot. 

The couple's marriage, however, is far from perfect and Frank's wandering eye often causes friction between the pair.

'Jules is a bit of an outsider in Fortitude,' she says. 'She's trying to make a new life for her family, but she doesn't have many friends. She's quite isolated.'

Jules' world begins to fall apart when Liam is taken seriously ill - and she makes a devastating discovery.

Jessica Raine, who previously starred in Call the Midwife, plays the role of Jules Sutter.

SIENNA GUILLORY AS NATALIE YELBURTON

Beautiful and brilliant scientist Natalie works with Professor Stoddart at the Arctic Research Centre, where she immediately catches the eye of newcomer Vincent.  

Cool and calm under pressure, she is thrown into the centre of the vicious crime committed in Fortitude as the Research Centre becomes the unlikely key to unlocking what really happened.

'She's a sexually adventurous scientist,' Guillory says. 'She maintains an emotional distance, yet craves physical contact.'

'Being a scientist means she doesn't take anyone's word for anything and has to find out things for herself.'

Luther's Sienna Guillory stars as Natalie Yelburton.

LUKE TREADAWAY AS VINCENT RATTREY

Talented young scientist Vincent arrives in Fortitude ready for the adventure of a lifetime - and does he ever find it.

The newest member of Professor Stoddart's team at the Arctic Research Centre, he is there to investigate the recent cannibalistic behaviour in the polar bear population.

However, he is soon drawn into the strange and terrifying events that have been threatening the town.

'Vincent is the audience's way in Fortitude,' Treadaway explains. 'He comes across some strange customs and he's also the one that discovers this horrific murder.'

'Things go wrong pretty quickly for him.'

Indeed, Vincent is authoritative and confident in his field of expertise, but less so in his dealings with other people - including his beautiful new colleague, Natalie Yelburton.

Luke Treadaway of Clash of the Titans fame plays Vincent Rattrey.

NICHOLAS PINNOCK AS FRANK SUTTER

Having served in Afghanistan, former military man Frank is now a search-and-rescue pilot working with the Fortitude police. 

When he begins an affair with fellow newcomer Elena, his irresponsible actions have consequences that reach further than he could have ever imagined - and that affect both his personal and professional lives.

'He doesn't really want to be there, he's done a few tours in Afghanistan and would rather still be there,' Pinnck explains. 'But something has made it impossible for him to stay.'

Nicholas Pinnock, of Top Boy, stars as Frank Sutter.