THE screenwriter of the BBC's hotly-anticipated crime drama has revealed how writing the series - based loosely on his experience as a first responder in St Helens and Merseyside - has been both a "cathartic" and "surreal" process.
In an exclusive interview with the Star, Tony Schumacher explained how a tumultuous decade working for Merseyside Police left him with the perfect material to write The Responder; a crime series about a morally "compromised" first responder who is forced to make life and death decisions every day.
The accumulation of stressful situations resulted in severe mental health difficulties and even a period of homelessness for Tony, but they have now coalesced to form the basis of the Martin Freeman-starring BBC series - which was partly filmed in St Helens.
Tony began his career as a first responder in St Helens back in 1996 and patrolled areas such as Thatto Heath, Dentons Green and around the town centre while on the beat.
Initially, he said he loved the "exciting" and unpredictable nature of his job, and felt like he was making a difference in the communities on his patch.
However, the "misery and desperation" of certain situations slowly began to wear him down, and not knowing what was on the end of a 999 call became increasingly anxiety-inducing.
Tony, from Huyton, said: "Ten years of working as a first responder completely burned me out - the sheer misery of the desperate situations you find yourself in really does wear you down.
"In the end I couldn't cope. I would very often finish work and cry in my car, but I would never tell anybody I was struggling - which is that thing with men and not saying anything.
"The stress it has having on me, my family and my relationships was too much, so I quit the force with no plan in place.
"I very quickly ran out of money and ended up sleeping in my car. I was really worried that once my MOT ran out, I would be on the streets."
After a friend got him back on his feet, Tony was able to "completely start again" and fulfil his creative ambitions, starting to write alongside his full-time jobs such as a taxi driver and a council tip worker.
His way with words was quickly recognised by fellow Scouser and screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, who mentored the former policeman through a TV writers’ bursary scheme - and Tony has since gone on to write three war-time novels.
Tony's talent also impressed The Responder's leading man, Martin Freeman, who said that his debut script "resonated with me immediately [and] felt like nothing that I’d read or seen".
After the rollercoaster of a journey he has been on, Tony said that working alongside Freeman and writing a prime time BBC drama has been a "surreal" experience - and the feedback he has had so far has been "overwhelming".
Tony added: "It's been a really cathartic process for me to write this script.
"I've laughed my heart out and then cried my eyes out - but I've loved getting in touch with ex-colleagues and finally speaking about what we went through.
"Essentially, I want to shine a light on those who are compromised mentally, struggling psychologically, but having to make life and death decisions every day."
The Responder begins tomorrow, Monday, January 24, on BBC One on at 9pm.
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