New Southport-filmed show - Ordinary Lies to premiere on BBC tonight

Jason Manford, Max Beesley, Michelle Keegan and Jo Joyner to star in new BBC drama

One little white lie wont hurt.... or so goes the premise behind the BBC’s new drama.

Filmed in Southport , Warrington and Crosby, Ordinary Lies looks at how a simple lie can spiral out of control.

Each episode focuses on one of the colleagues and friends of JS Motors, a car showroom in Warrington.

From party-loving receptionists, Tracy (Michelle Keegan) and Viv (Cherelle Skeet) and ambitious company boss, Mike (Max Beesley) to enigmatic salesman, Pete (Mackenzie Crook) and mothering PA, Kathy (Sally Lindsay), each new and individual story questions just how well we know the people we work with.

The first episode of the six-part series tells the story of family man and salesman, Marty McLean (Jason Manford) who tells the drastic lie that wife, Katrina, has tragically died when confronted with the possibility of losing his job. His colleagues are filled with shock and sympathy for Marty, but as they rally round to help the apparently grieving widower, his lie quickly unravels.

News of Marty’s loss brings back painful memories for Head of Admin, Beth (Jo Joyner), who is struggling to keep her family together after the disappearance of her husband Dave the year before.

After receiving mysterious silent phone calls and unsure if Dave is alive or dead, she confides in Mike.

With Mike’s marriage to Alison (Belinda Stewart-Wilson) hanging in the balance though, the chemistry between him and Beth is difficult to ignore.

Meanwhile, it’s soon clear that Marty, Beth and Mike are not the only colleagues harbouring secrets.

Despite her love of gossip, Kathy would be horrified if her colleagues knew the truth about her own private life, whilst mistakes in hypochondriac Pete’s past are on the verge of resurfacing and confident ladies man and mechanic, Rick (Shazad Latif), gets himself into hot water after the breakdown of his marriage.

The six-part series is written by Danny Brocklehurst, produced by Tom Sherry (Scott and Bailey) and directed by John McKay (Life on Mars) and Juliet May (Call the Midwife). Executive producers are Nicola Shindler for RED Production Company and Polly Hill for BBC.

Charlotte Dowson

Charlotte will make her TV debut as Jazz, the oldest daughter of Beth and Dave (Beth is played by Jo Joyner and Dave is played by Shaun Dooley).

Charlotte is a pupil at Stagecoach Theatre Arts Liverpool based in Childwall Sports and Science college, and principal Lianne Santer says: “Myself all the teachers and children can not wait to watch Charlotte’s performance, she always works so hard and we know she will do a fabulous job.”

Lauren plays receptionist Amelie who works with Michelle Keegan’s character, wannabe WAG Tracy.

Lauren, who studies acting techniques at AllStars Casting on Hope Street, said: “Jo Joyner has quite a motherly role on set, and I know Jason Manford is a comedian but he is actually really funny and makes everyone laugh on set.”