Hidden Assets star reveals script change after shock season 3 development

*Warning: Contains major spoilers for Hidden Assets.*

Claire Wallace is no stranger to unforeseen developments in her work for the Irish Criminal Assets Bureau.

In the third season of RTÉ drama Hidden Assets, now on the BBC, the detective sergeant follows a trail of €27 million in embezzled funds from Dublin to the Basque Country after an opening scene that immediately throws her on the back foot.

As she joins her colleagues in searching the home of Nick Heaslip, the portfolio manager behind the misappropriated funds, he grabs a gun and, despite her attempts to regain control of the situation, takes his own life.

It's a horrific moment for Claire, both personally and professionally, as she's put under intense pressure from her superiors while the press begin to circle.

But arguably the biggest shock – even more than murder and migrant smuggling – arrives in the final moments of the series.

After coming into contact with toxic waste out in Spain as part of the investigation, she has her bloods taken, when is when the doctor informs Claire that she's pregnant – which comes as a complete surprise to her.

Speaking about her reaction on first reading the script, Nora-Jane Noone revealed the moment almost played out differently, with Claire originally written to smile when she hears the news.

But Noone was unconvinced her character would respond in that way, which she flagged to the producers.

"I was like, 'I don't think that's the right reaction,'" she said. "Because in this day and age, people get to have a choice [as to whether they have a child or not]. But even from the point of view of it feeling very conflicting.

"Maybe there's part of her that's really happy, but then it's like, 'Oh, I might have to give up this part of my life.' In season 2, there was an agreement with her husband that she would have a number of years to focus on her career, and then it would be his turn, because he had been at home with their child. But she realises how important her work for CAB is and she feels like she's really making a difference. And so she now has changed heart and wants to pursue this work and keep at it."

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She added: "So whatever pressures were already there in her relationship are going to be amplified – and having another child is not a quick fix for any relationship. And I don't know exactly how they're going to develop it, but I thought it was a great ending. I really liked the complexity of that and I hope they keep that moving forward if we get a season 4.”

Aaron Monaghan, who plays DS Sean Prendergast, also shared his hopes for a fourth season.

"Because it’s wide open, the series can kind of go anywhere – we can go to any country. When it deals with such topical issues, there's so much to explore," he said.

"So I would imagine they're looking at it, and I think all of us would be delighted to come back."

One thing's for certain: if they do return, Sean will continue to support Claire, on all fronts.

"Both of the characters care deeply for each other," he added. "They've been through the wars together and have a deep respect for one another."

Although as Monaghan notes, that can sometimes make things a little complicated.

"Sean has witnessed Claire going through what must have been an incredibly traumatic incident," he explained. "From that first scene, he's worried about her personally, so a lot of the season is him maybe stepping over the line professionally and worrying about her as a friend.

"He's kind of saying, 'You're running away from the case or from the personal trauma you've left behind in Ireland.' And he may be right in some cases. But that doesn't mean he's morally right. It's kind of a lack of professionalism."

But that, he added, is what makes their dynamic so compelling.

"What's really lovely is that the writers have built this strong professional relationship, but because they're such a close-knit team, you also get to explore their personal relationships. The writers have teased that out brilliantly."

Hidden Assets is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

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