Latest UK TV dramas

[Chief Super]

Left Bank Pictures are developing two new TV detective dramas in the UK – an Aurelio Zen series for BBC1, and an Inspector Banks special for ITV1.

The three-part feature-length Zen series will be based on the books by the late crime writer Michael Dibden, and are set in Italy. Separately, Left Bank is developing Peter Robinson’s 2002 novel 'Aftermath', following Yorkshire detective chief inspector Alan Banks.

The same independent production company also produces the multi-award-winning drama Wallander, based on the novels of Henning Mankell, which is going  into production for a second series.

[Chief Super]

Brenda Blethyn is set to star in an ITV1 adaptation of crime writer Ann Cleeves’ novel 'Hidden Depths'.

Blethyn will play Inspector Vera Stanhope in the murder mystery set in Northumbria. 'Hidden Depths' is third in the Stanhope series after 'The Crow Trap' and 'Telling Tales'.

Filming for the two-hour drama begins this autumn, with a possible transmission date lined up for the first half of 2010. The first title in Cleeves’ Shetland series, 'Raven Black', will also be a BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play in January 2010.

[Judith]

Nice to see some new crime/police drama instead of repeats, but what did you think of ITV's Single-handed?
      I thought it was exceptionally good. The seemingly gentle story line packed with underlying menace, good writing and acting, well developed and totally believable characters set against a stuning backdrop. About as good as TV gets.

[Chief Super]

Left Bank Pictures are developing two new TV detective dramas in the UK – an Aurelio Zen series for BBC1, and an Inspector Banks special for ITV1.

The latest news is that Stephen Tomkinson will take the role of Peter Robinson's Chief Inspector Banks. Tomkinson might be familiar to viewers as Fr Clifford in 'Ballykissangel' or as Danny Trevanion in the African safari series 'Wild at Heart'.