Stephen Fry to star in Edinburgh-set art heist drama

ACTOR and comedian Stephen Fry is to appear in a new adaptation of an Ian Rankin novel about an art heist in Edinburgh.

Doors Open also stars Scottish actor Dougie Henshall as Mike Mackenzie, a self-made businessman who hatches a plan to replace priceless masterpieces stored in a private gallery’s warehouse with brilliantly accurate forgeries.

Fry will play art expert Professor Gissing in the two-hour ITV production, which was adapted from Rankin’s best-selling novel by James Mavor and Sandi Toksvig.

Fry revealed he was attracted to the role after enjoying the novel from one of Scotland’s leading writers.

He said: “I picked up Ian Rankin’s breathless and ingenious thriller Doors Open at an airport a year or so back and as I read I just knew it would make a thrilling, charming and original TV drama.

“I also adored the character of Professor Gissing and a shamefully vain part of me refused to see anyone else in the role.”

Laura Mackie, director of drama at ITV said: “Doors Open is full of excitement with many twists and turns and it is as much of a love story as an art heist. We have an A-list cast lined up to bring Ian Rankin’s great characters to life.”

Filming will begin in Edinburgh later this month.