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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte McIntyre

Better's criminal kingpin Col McHugh actor Andrew Buchan is married to Emmerdale star

Better follows DCI Lou Slack, played by Leila Farzard, in her battle towards redemption as she attempts to bring down Col McHugh (Andrew Buchan), a dangerous criminal she once made a life-changing deal with.

The series premiered on Monday on BBC One and runs for five episodes with the entire series already available on Iplayer.

Andrew, who plays the head of the Leeds criminal underworld, is from Stockport, Cheshire and is best known for starring alongside Michelle Williams in All the Money in the World and ITV's Broadchurch.

The actor recently portrayed Matt Hancock as Health Secretary during the pandemic in Sky drama This England in 2021.

Andrew Buchan portrayed Matt Hancock in This England drama (Phil Fisk/ Sky UK Ltd)

Andrew is married to Emmerdale star Amy Nuttall, who played Chloe Atkinson in the ITV soap from 2000 until 2005.

Amy quit the soap in a bid to pursue a singing career with her character leaving the village in a disgrace after pursuing a relationship with Chas Dingle's boyfriend Carol King.

Amy is also known for her role in Downtown Abbey as housemaid Ethel Parks.

Her other acting credits include Death in Paradise, ITV's Liar and The Musketeers.

The couple got married in 2012 after embarking on a relationship in 2007 and welcomed their first child in 2015.

Amy previously dated her Emmerdale co-star Ben Freeman, who played Scott Windsor, for four years.

Following the conclusion of Happy Valley, BBC One is delivering a brand-new crime thriller.

The synopsis reads: "19 years ago, when Lou was a young police officer at her lowest ebb and Col a low-ranking but ambitious newcomer to the Leeds underworld, their paths crossed, and they struck a deal that changed their lives forever. The bargain allowed Col to become very rich and very powerful, and Lou to turn around her failing career.

Leila Farzad stars alongside Andrew Buchan in the BBC thriller Better (BBC/Sister Pictures/Ross Fergusan)

"A complex but special bond between the pair was forged, and so began Lou’s gradual slide into corruption. But now, when Lou’s family is brought to the brink of a tragedy, she must put right the wrongs that she has spent years rationalising and excusing, to have a second chance at a new, better life."

Speaking about the role, Andrew teased: "It's neither a cop show nor a whodunnit. [Leila and Col] began giving each other tip offs and turning a blind eye to things as a way of forwarding their careers and ascending the ladder and that escalated over the years.The two characters are very intertwined. It makes the unravelling of their lives incredibly interesting."

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