Submarine drama Vigil 'reflects Britain’s diversity'
By Amit RoySep 20, 2021
Cast member Lolita Chakrabarti says there is nothing 'Asian' about her role
LOLITA CHAKRABARTI has spoken to Eastern Eye about her character, Lieutenant Commander Erin Branning, in the six-part BBC drama, Vigil, which tells of a police investigation after the suspicious death of a crew member on the nuclear submarine while it is out on patrol.
There is nothing Asian about Chakrabarti’s role. Branning, who looks quite intimidating in her uniform, is “a high-ranking naval officer who runs the legal matters for the navy,” explained Chakrabarti.
In fact, the casting reflects remarkable diversity. The submarine is commanded by a black captain, Commander Neil Newsome, played by Paterson Joseph.
The doctor on the submarine is Surgeon Lieutenant Tiffany Docherty (“Doc Doc”), played by Anjli Mohindra. The cast does seem to be a reflection of multicultural Britain. Bhav Joshi has been cast as crime prevention officer John Deerbourne; Fode Simbo as crew member Abiola; Suni La as a GP; and Morgan Archer as a CID officer. “I think the world is opening up, and they’re looking for many more different kinds of voices,” Chakrabarti told Eastern Eye.
“Differences are a plus now, as opposed to not.”
Lolita Chakrabarti in Vigil. (Photo: Graham Hunter)
The plot is as follows: when a crew member, Chief Petty Officer Craig Burke (Martin Compston) is found dead on board the Trident nuclear submarine HMS Vigil, police in Scotland are called in to investigate. The catch? The UK’s nuclear deterrent must remain unbroken, so the submarine stays on patrol and Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) must go aboard to begin an investigation. Although the death was written off as an accidental overdose, Amy suspects foul play. But when the crew close ranks in the face of Amy’s questioning, a new threat overshadows her inquiry.
Filming took place in Scotland not in an actual submarine but in a carefully designed set. Some naval types have quibbled about the detail of life on a submarine, insisting, for example, the interior is much more cramped.
When DCI Silva is winched down to the submarine – it has surfaced to receive her – she is warned not to put her arms up, otherwise she will slip out of her harness.
That bit I can personally confirm is 100 per cent accurate. As a young reporter on the Daily Telegraph, I got sent out from London to Cornwall to cover the “Fastnet disaster”. That was a yacht race which was hit by a hurricane. Nineteen yachtsmen died in the disaster which reached its climax on August 13 and 14, 1979 – but 75 people were saved by Fleet Air Arm crews and another 65 picked up by lifeboats and shipping.
A colleague, Chris Bramwell, and I flew in a hired light aircraft from Heathrow to the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall. As we were reporters from the Daily Telegraph, the services’ paper, the navy offered to fly one of us out in a Sea King helicopter to report on a search and rescue operation. It fell to me to be flown out to HMS Broadsword, a type 22 frigate which was in charge of the rescue. I forgot whether the winch operator asked me to put my arms up or down.
Anyway, because of the hurricane, I swung through 45 degrees. I was meant to spend the week on Broadsword but being a terrible sailor, I was very sick and had to be winched back after a couple of days. But I did spot what turned out to be a drowned sailor.
Broadsword came up again in my life during the Falklands War. Anyway, the winching scene in Vigil is really true to life.
The drama appears to have taken over as Sunday night’s gripping viewing from Line of Duty, which comes from the same TV company, World Productions.
Chakrabarti is thrilled with the ratings: “In the first week, with sort of collated numbers, we attracted 10.2 million viewers; that’s amazing.”
Talking about her character, she said Branning “is very close to the second in command and relied upon by (the boss) Rear Admiral Shaw, played by Stephen Dillane. She’s placed as liaison with the detective and the investigation on Vigil.”
Chakrabarti was born on June 1, 1969 in Kingston upon Hull and graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1990. Her elder sister, Reeta Chakrabarti, was born on December 12, 1964 in Ealing, went to Oxford and is today a BBC presenter.
Their parents, Bidhan Kumar and Ruma Chakrabarti, arrived in Britain from Kolkata in 1960. Their mum passed away five years ago having always stayed at home to look after her daughters, but their father, is now 88 and retired, having been an orthopaedic surgeon at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham and later a consultant at King’s College Hospital in London.
The family did make serious attempts at returning to Calcutta, but came back to Britain.
“It’s the immigrant story, you want to go home,” said Chakrabarti. “The first time was when I was three. And then we went back when I was 10. We stayed for 18 months – and I loved it.” Despite the years in England, she has not stopped being Bengali.
“Definitely, in terms of culture and food. Language is still there. I don’t speak it very often. So, I’m not practising it, but I can understand it when I’m on the tube and things like that. You can’t take the Indian out of you, can you? It’s just there.”
As a writer and an actress, Chakrabarti said she had “always pushed in my career that I play across the board a character rather than racial detail.
Anjli Mohindra in a scene from the drama.
So, obviously, that informs every part I play. I played characters that have Asian names, English names, all sorts. I think it’s much more about getting a team (for Vigil) that reflects the world they want to show. We, too often, look at things through a racial lens. In most stories, it’s completely irrelevant. What has happened in the last few years, which is quite divisive, is everyone talks about race. If it’s a story set in India or in a Jamaican community in Britain, then it’s extremely relevant. But otherwise, we’re all just people, and we’ve kind of forgotten to look at things like that.”
She added: “Years ago, it used to be one kind of story for people like us. And now it just isn’t the case.”
Meanwhile, in an interview with the BBC, Mohindra spoke of her role, Surgeon Lieutenant Tiffany Docherty, the submarine’s doctor: “She cares deeply for Vigil’s crew, she is the go-to person for the personal and mental issues that can come as an occupational hazard being aboard a submarine, lonely and isolated from life on land, for such long stints. She has grafted incredibly hard to get where she is. She was selected as part of the Navy’s
Medical Training Grant Scheme, who sponsored her degree in medicine.
On Monday (13), Mohindra told the BBC’s Asian Network: “It’s such an exciting time for us at the moment.”
The diversity stretches to the writing. Last Sunday’s (12) episode, the fourth, was written by Chandni Lakhani, who was part of the BBC’s first “drama room writer development group”.
Again, there is nothing remotely “Asian” in the episode.
Both leaders reaffirm commitment to India-US partnership
Trade talks resume in New Delhi amid tariff tensions
India defends purchase of discounted Russian oil
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday called Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and greeted him ahead of his 75th birthday. The phone call sparked hopes of a reset in India-US ties, which had been under strain after Washington doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.
In a social media post, Modi said that like Trump, he is also "fully" committed to taking the India-US comprehensive and global partnership to "new heights."
"Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday," Modi wrote on X. "Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict."
Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2025
Trump praises Modi
Trump said Modi is "doing a tremendous job" and thanked him for supporting his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
"Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job," Trump said on Truth Social. "Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the war between Russia and Ukraine."
The call came a day before Modi’s 75th birthday and was the first since the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India.
Trade talks in New Delhi
The call coincided with a new round of India-US talks in New Delhi on a proposed bilateral trade agreement.
A spokesperson at the US embassy said: "Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch had a positive meeting in Delhi with his counterpart Ministry of Commerce and Industry special secretary Rajesh Agrawal on September 16 to discuss next steps in bilateral trade negotiations."
Tariffs and tensions
The phone call followed social media exchanges between the two leaders in recent days, which indicated intent to rebuild ties.
Relations had been strained after the Trump administration doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent additional duty on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. India described the action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable."
In recent weeks, several Trump administration officials, including White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, used offensive language while criticising India’s energy ties with Russia.
India defends Russian oil purchases
India has maintained that its energy procurement is based on national interest and market factors. It turned to Russian crude offered at discounted prices after Western sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ongoing trade negotiations
The fresh round of trade talks came after Modi responded to Trump’s recent remarks on addressing "trade barriers."
Trump had said he looked forward to speaking with Modi in the "upcoming weeks" and expressed confidence that both sides could finalise the proposed deal.
Modi has said India and the US are natural partners and that both sides are working to conclude the negotiations.
In the past few months, several rounds of talks were held, but a deal could not be reached due to differences in areas including agriculture and dairy.
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Forecasters say 30–40mm of rain is likely to fall widely
Two yellow weather warnings issued for parts of Wales and the Midlands
Up to 70mm of rain expected, bringing risk of flooding, power cuts and travel delays
Flood alerts in place for rivers in Cumbria, Devon, Cornwall and Carmarthenshire
Residents advised to prepare emergency kits and stay updated with forecasts
Heavy rainfall set to cause disruption
The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings covering parts of Wales and the Midlands today, with forecasters warning of potential flooding, travel disruption and power cuts. Between 6am and 11am, persistent downpours are expected to sweep eastwards, bringing nearly a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours.
Areas under warning
South and southwest Wales are expected to be worst affected, with Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd and Powys in the Midlands also on alert. In Wales, warnings apply to Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Rainfall and flood risks
Forecasters say 30–40mm of rain is likely to fall widely, with some southwest-facing hills facing totals of 50–70mm. The Met Office has cautioned that flooding of homes and businesses is possible, while spray and standing water could make journeys hazardous. Public transport, including bus and rail services, is also likely to be affected.
Flood alerts already in place
Flood alerts have already been issued in parts of Cumbria, including along the River Greta and River Derwent near Keswick, where nearby campsites face risk. In the southwest, alerts are in force for the Exmoor rivers in Devon and the Upper River Tamar on the Devon-Cornwall border. Natural Resources Wales has issued further alerts for rivers in Carmarthenshire, Llanelli, Llangennech, Pwll and Burry Port.
Public advice and emergency preparation
The Met Office has urged residents in affected areas to prepare a flood plan and consider assembling an emergency kit. Recommended items include torches, spare batteries, a mobile phone power pack and essential supplies in case of power cuts. Officials stress the importance of checking travel updates and staying informed, as weather warnings can change quickly.
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Donald Trump and Melania Trump exit Air Force One after arriving at London Stansted Airport for a state visit on September 16, 2025 in Stansted, Essex.
Trump begins his second state visit to the UK with a royal welcome at Windsor Castle
Prince William, Catherine, King Charles and Queen Camilla take part in ceremony
State banquet and trade talks with prime minister Keir Starmer scheduled
Protests and security operation mark visit amid political challenges
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump began his unprecedented second state visit to Britain on Wednesday with a lavish welcome from King Charles and the royal family at Windsor Castle.
The visit opened with heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine greeting Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, before King Charles and Queen Camilla joined them for a carriage procession through the grounds of Windsor Castle. A wreath was laid on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth, who died in 2022.
UK officials said the visit involves the largest military ceremonial welcome for a state visit in living memory, with 1,300 troops, 120 horses, a military band ceremony, and a flypast by US and British F-35 fighter jets alongside the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows display team.
Trump, who has often expressed admiration for the British monarchy, said on arrival: “A lot of things here warm my heart.” He described Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, as “my friend.” Earlier this year, Trump had written on social media, “I Love King Charles.”
The day will conclude with a white-tie state banquet at Windsor Castle, where Trump and King Charles are expected to deliver speeches.
prime minister Keir Starmer will host Trump on Thursday at Chequers for talks on trade, investment, and international issues including Ukraine and Gaza.
Britain is seeking to deepen economic ties and build on a new technology pact covering AI, quantum computing, and civil nuclear energy. Microsoft has pledged 31 billion pounds ($42 billion) in UK investments.
“Basically, I’m there also on trade. They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit. We made a deal, and it’s a great deal. And I’m into helping them,” Trump said before departing for Britain. “They’d like to see if they could get a little bit better deal, so we’ll talk to them.”
The visit comes at a time of political challenges for Starmer, who last week dismissed UK ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson over links to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has also been linked to the Epstein scandal, which he has called a “hoax.”
The issue resurfaced on Tuesday night when protesters projected images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle. Police said four people were arrested for malicious communications over what was described as an unauthorised projection stunt.
A large security operation is in place for the visit, with 1,600 officers deployed in London to manage planned protests.
Trump is the first US president and the first elected politician to be invited for two state visits by a British monarch.
The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.
Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut
The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.
Inauguration by global leaders
The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.
The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, WalesUK Parliament
Competition results
All events were held in the Farrie-Soti (individual) format:
Girls’ Category: Roop Kaur (Akali Phoola Singh Gatka Akhara Coventry) won first place, defeating teammate Manroop Kaur. Rihanna Kaur (Baba Banda Singh Gatka Akhara Gravesend) took third.
Boys’ Category: Navjot Singh (Baba Fateh Singh Gatka Akhara Woolwich) secured first place against teammate Jashan Singh. Dharam Singh and Tejveer Singh (both from Akali Phoola Singh Gatka Akhara Coventry) shared third.
Men’s Category: Gurdeep Singh (Jangi Horses Club Wolverhampton) claimed the title, defeating Kuldeep Singh (Baba Banda Singh Gatka Akhara Gravesend). Third place was shared by Anmoldeep Singh and Nihal Singh (both Baba Mitt Singh Gatka Akhara Wolverhampton).
Awards and recognition
All winners received medals and trophies. In a significant gesture, Gatka Federation UK presented £1,000 to each participating Akhara to strengthen training facilities and promote wider engagement in the sport.
Leaders praise UK’s Gatka growth
Harjeet Singh Grewal commended MP Tan Dhesi for his sustained efforts in promoting Gatka since 2013, pledging WGF and NGAI’s continued support in advancing the martial art across Britain.
In his address, MP Dhesi — also Chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee — highlighted the growing enthusiasm among young people in the UK and thanked the Gurdwara committees of Swansea and Cardiff for their support in making the event a success.
Dignitaries in attendance
The championship was attended by prominent figures including Herman Singh Johal (General Secretary, Gatka Federation UK), representatives from Swansea and Cardiff Gurdwara committees, media partners from Akaal Channel, Sikh Channel, Jan Shakti News, and several community leaders.
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The site, located in Gujarat, houses hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, and 900 crocodiles. (Photo: Instagram/Vantara)
AN INDIAN Supreme Court-ordered investigation has cleared a large private animal facility run by the son of Asia’s richest man, rejecting allegations of wildlife violations.
Vantara, described as the “world’s biggest wild animal rescue centre,” is operated by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.
The site, located in Gujarat, houses hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, and 900 crocodiles, according to India’s Central Zoo Authority.
Last month, the Supreme Court asked a panel led by retired judges to examine allegations of unlawful acquisition of animals, including elephants, and possible violations of wildlife laws and money laundering. The court acted after receiving petitions based on media reports and complaints by wildlife groups.
Wildlife activists had raised concerns about the facility, saying it was keeping endangered species next to a large oil refinery without plans to reintroduce them into the wild.
The panel’s report, presented in court on Monday, said the “allegations rest wholly on conjecture and surmises on secondary reporting, and activist commentary.” It added, “The complaints are, therefore, devoid of merit.”
In March, German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that Vantara imported about 39,000 animals in 2024, including from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. According to the centre, dozens of elephants were also transported from across India in specially adapted trucks.
The probe report said “each of the imports has undergone multi-layered and multi-jurisdictional verification.”
The Supreme Court accepted the findings, saying it had “no hesitation in accepting the conclusion so drawn in the report.” It added, “We are more than satisfied that the facilities at Vantara in certain respects exceeds the prescribed standards.”
Vantara welcomed the outcome. “With utmost humility and gratitude, we welcome the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The SIT's report and the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order have made it clear that the doubts and allegations raised against Vantara’s animal welfare mission were without any basis. The validation of the truth by the distinguished and widely respected members of the SIT is neot just a relief for everyone at Vantara but also a blessing, because it allows our work to speak for itself."
"We take this occasion to pledge our solidarity with the Government of India, State Governments, and all other stakeholders involved in the huge and challenging task of animal care, and affirm that Vantara will always be ready to work in close collaboration with them. Let’s together make Mother Earth a better place for all living beings,” the facility said in a statement.