Shannon Dumani has been a busy woman since we last saw her on Gangs of London. Finally rising in the ranks of the criminal organisation, the savvy mum is truly her father’s daughter – and will do anything to keep her powerful position.
But when a cocaine spiking threatens her operation alongside Elliott, she’s got to think on her feet for her own safety, as her loyalties to those within the gangs are put to the test.
Shannon is not one to shy away from a challenge though, and may even have one or two plans of her own…
Speaking ahead of season three, actress Pippa Bennett-Warner speaks about Shannon’s motivations, where her position in the gangs of London currently lies, and what to expect from her in the new episodes.
We’re back for another season. How does it feel to be back and to see the continued success of the show?
It's great to be back. It can be quite strange revisiting a character, but with Gangs it's like revisiting an old friend or putting on an old familiar cuddly jumper. I'm really happy to be back in Shannon’s shoes.
Can you give me a brief overview of what season three is about?
Season three has multiple threads and storylines that bleed into each other. We start in a nightclub owned by Shannon and Ed. During the course of the first episode we learn that loads of cocaine in London has been spiked, leading to many deaths, which then evolves into other storylines. Another key storyline is about who murdered Elliot's wife and child.
What makes this series different from the previous two series?
Season three merges the DNA of seasons one and two into a really satisfying soup. All the characters have brilliant emotional journeys and of course there’s still tons of violence and backstabbing. Season three feels like the grown-up version of the show.
Where do we leave Shannon at the end of season two?
At the end of season two Shannon finally gets her place at the table. Season three Shannon is season two Shannon but really ramped up. A 2.0 version of her that was always there, lying dormant, but is now finally getting her chance to reveal her true self.
Where do we find Shannon 2.0 at the beginning of season three?
At the beginning of season three, Shannon is running a successful nightclub with her father, Ed. In the first episode, it's revealed that the cocaine Shannon has been providing is spiked, causing many deaths. This triggers multiple character arcs throughout the season. It's very twisty and turny. I don't want to give too much plot away, but Shannon's been up to no good.
What's motivating Shannon this series? What's her biggest goal?
Shannon is deeply invested in her and her father standing on their own two feet and coming out of the shadow of the Wallaces. Last season they lost Alex, which was obviously a huge blow. This season she knows they deserve their seats at the top table and is prepared to do whatever it takes to keep them.
What was it like filming sequences like in the first episode where Elliot and Shannon meet with Kim Kyu-Tae?
It was so fun and filming with Shin Seung-hwan and Lim Ju-hwan was so, so much fun. They’re brilliant and brought so much wonderful energy to set and to the scene. We filmed the sequence at Fabric nightclub, which was epic.
You have a couple of stunts this season, particularly in episode six.
The stunts were really fun. We have the best stunt team on Gangs so I really enjoyed getting to do a few this season. Everything is choreographed, like doing a dance. It’s really pleasing because when it works, you just feel it.
What was it like working with Kim Hong-Sun?
Kim Hong Sun is a legend. I adore him and adored working with him. He’s hilarious and has great energy and instincts. I’m a big fan of Korean cinema and dramas, and I think he brought his secret sauce to season three whilst also capturing the DNA of the show. Having him at the helm was the best decision..
What was it like working with Sopé?
The same as every season. It was brilliant. I’ve known Sopé for a really long time now and working with him is always really lovely. He’s also incredibly funny so a lot of the time we would be hysterically laughing and then would be called and we’d have to get really serious really quickly!
What are the three words you would use to describe Gangs of London season three?
Brutal, elevated, and thrilling.