Protection star Siobhan Finneran has managed to keep her personal life out of the spotlight, although she is rumoured to be in a relationship with Death In Paradise’s Don Gilet
Happy Valley star Siobhan Finneran returns to our screens this Sunday in the new ITV police drama Protection, and it is believed she is in a relationship with a star whose hit detective show is currently on BBC One on Friday nights.
Siobhan plays DI Liz Nyles in the police drama, an officer who works in the witness protection department, shielding those who have given evidence against criminals and are then hidden in safe houses. However, she realises one of her team could be leaking information when there is a murder at one of the safe houses, and as DCI Hannah Wheatley (Katherine Kelly) arrives to look into possible corruption of the unit, Liz starts her own investigation. She focuses on her younger, married colleague DS Paul Brandice (Barry Ward), who she has been having a secret affair with.
The actress, 58, who is best known for her roles as Miss O’Brien in Downton Abbey and Clare in Happy Valley, learnt a lot about witness protection in preparation for her role. “Before the series, I knew the basics: people get moved to safe houses and then they’re looked after. I didn’t realise it became such a relationship between those people,” she says. “Looking back, I suppose this was naive because the witnesses have to feel comfortable enough to tell the officer everything.
“That said, I don’t think anybody really knows about it, because it’s all hidden away, as it should be. I know that, within the police force, it’s a very separate unit: all their cars are leased to different private companies so you can’t trace people, and so on. It’s not a job I’d ever even think about doing. What do you talk to your neighbours about over the garden fence?”
Away from TV, Siobhan keeps her personal life as private as her character’s on screen. In the late 90s, Siobhan got married to Emmerdale actor Mark Jordon and the two went on to welcome two children, Poppy and Jordan, together. They both slowed down with their acting roles in order to raise their lovely family. However, the two parted ways in 2014 and Mark, now 57, went on to tie the knot with Emmerdale star Laura Norton.
More recently, however, Siobhan has been making headlines for her connection with Death In Paradise star Don Gilet, who plays DI Mervin Wilson. Although they’ve kept mum about their dalliance, they were seen hand-in-hand at the TV Choice Awards last year, and Siobhan even called Don “my fella” during a natter with The Guardian.
A touching Christmas gift from Don to Siobhan was a book of Rudi Hurzlmeier’s art, proof of the thoughtful bond shared between them. Siobhan couldn’t help but share a laugh about a quirky piece of art that turned into an unexpected Christmas present from her beau. “It’s a picture of a nun looking in a shoe shop, and a bloke next to her has got his hand on her bum. I showed it to Don [Gilet], my fella, and now one of my Christmas presents is a book of Hurzlmeier’s work.”
The duo previously shared the screen in ITV’s 2017 drama The Loch – with Don playing psychological profiler Blake Albrighton and Siobhan starring as DCI Lauren Quigley.
Protection is on ITV1 on Sunday 16 March at 9pm, with all episodes available on ITVX
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