Viewers tuning in to Sky's action drama Prisoner may well spot a familiar face gracing their screens, reports the Mirror.

One of the lead stars from BBC's hugely popular Regency period drama The Other Bennet Sister is set to return to television tonight (April 30) in an exciting new role.

Laurie Davidson, celebrated for his portrayal of the charming Mr Ryder in BBC's The Other Bennet Sister, steps into the shoes of Declan Dempsey in Sky's gripping action thriller Prisoner.

The character couldn't be further removed from Mr Ryder, with Davidson undergoing a remarkable transformation for the part.

Declan is the son of a powerful mafia boss, desperately seeking his father's approval, whatever the price.

Offering a glimpse into his character in the upcoming drama, Davidson revealed: "Declan is the black sheep of this crime family. He hasn't performed in the way that his father would probably like.

"He's been quite unreliable growing up, and so when we first meet him, he's hungry for an opportunity to prove himself. He's not really taken that seriously within the organisation.

"His dad is under house arrest which presents an opportunity for Declan to prove himself and try and ultimately seize power and control this criminal syndicate."

Prisoner launches on Sky tonight at 9pm, with the six-part series also available as a complete boxset for those who prefer to watch at their own pace.

The show centres on unsuspecting prisoner transport officer Amber Todd, portrayed by Big Boys and Boiling Point star Izuka Hoyle, whose first day back at work following maternity leave turns out to be far from straightforward.

Amber finds herself handcuffed to highly-valued prisoner and hitman Tibor Stone (Tahar Rahim) after the pair are forced to flee when their convoy is ambushed by gangsters.

Tibor has become the prime target of crime syndicate Pegasus, which is desperate to silence him before he can take the stand against them in court.

What follows is a tightly-crafted thriller packed with twists and turns as Amber and Tibor race to reach court in time for the trial.

The duo must contend with a series of threats from Pegasus, among them Declan and ruthless hitwoman and Tibor's protégé Nina Dragus (Leonie Benesch).

Davidson went on to shed light on his character: "Declan doesn't have the ability or the confidence to do it on his own.

"He's shown moments of brilliance, but he's inconsistent and crumbles under his father's gaze.

"I think under the right circumstances, can really excel but, he finds the pressure of his father all too much. Harrison fully expects him to fail, so he does."

The star's exciting new role comes as the cast of The Other Bennet Sister are promoting the series in the USA ahead of its release on BritBox.

The Other Bennet Sister is streaming on BBC iPlayer now

Prisoner airs on Sky tonight at 9pm and will drop as a boxset on Sky and NOW