Legendary BBC detective series returns to screen 16 years after the last emotional episode

A much-loved BBC detective series returns to screen sixteen years after its emotional final episode.

The broadcaster has acquired Lynley, a new film adaptation of Elizabeth George’s hit crime novels.

The original detective series, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, starring Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small, first aired in 2001 and ran for six seasons before ending in June 2008.

The new series, currently filming in Ireland, stars Leo Suter, known for Vikings: Valhalla and Ted Lasso’s Sofia Barclay, as the show’s unconventional detective duo DI Tommy Lynley and DS Barbara Havers.

They are supported by a stellar cast including Daniel Mays (Magpie Murders), Niamh Walsh (The English Game), Michael Workeye (My Lady Jane) and Joshua Sher (Vera).

The BBC has acquired Lynley, a new film adaptation of Elizabeth George’s hit crime novels starring Leo Suter, known for Vikings: Valhalla and Ted Lasso’s Sofia Barclay (photo)

The original detective series, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, starring Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small, first aired in 2001 and ran for six seasons before ending in June 2008.

The synopsis for the upcoming series reads: ‘Tommy Lynley is a brilliant police detective, but an outsider within the force – simply because of his aristocratic upbringing.

‘He is paired with Barbara Havers, a sergeant with a strong attitude and a working-class background. With seemingly nothing in common and against all odds, the mismatched duo of Lynley and Havers become a formidable team, bonded by their desire to see justice done.”

It continues: ‘Daniel Mays plays DCI Brian Nies, the astute, suspicious senior detective of the Three Counties Major Incident Team, whose dislike of Lynley stems partly from his own insecurities about class and partly because he knows he is no longer the smartest person on the planet. world is. room.

‘Niamh Walsh stars as Helen Clyde, a real estate agent and Lynley’s former Oxford classmate, whose romance with Lynley is sparked when their paths fatefully cross on a case; Michael Workeye as technology specialist Tony Bekele; and Joshua Sher as forensic scientist, Simon St. James.”

Author Elizabeth George then shared her delight at the return of the revived series, commenting: ‘I’m delighted to see Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers coming back to television, especially with the participation of the BBC and Britbox and the production expertise of Speeltuin.

“It’s a real treat to see my characters come to life on television.”

Writer and executive producer Steve Thompson said of the shows: “It is a privilege and a thrill to have the opportunity to adapt these wonderful books for television. Elizabeth George’s iconic characters are deeply loved and her gripping stories are clever and ingenious.’

Meanwhile, Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Program Acquisition, added: ‘There is so much to enjoy in this new and exciting adaptation, both for fans of Elizabeth George’s gripping novels and the iconic BBC series The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, as for viewers who still have to wait. meet the magnetic pull of Lynley.’

The much-loved BBC detective series returns to screen 16 years after its emotional final episode (Sharon Small and Nathaniel Parker pictured)

The synopsis for the upcoming series reads: ‘Tommy Lynley is a brilliant police detective, but an outsider on the force – simply due to his aristocratic upbringing’ (Leo Suter pictured)

He is paired with Barbara Havers, a sergeant with a quirky attitude and a working-class background’ (Sofia Barclay in the photo)

‘Daniel Mays (pictured) plays DCI Brian Nies, the astute, suspicious senior detective of the Three Counties Major Incident Team, whose dislike of Lynley stems partly from his own insecurities about class and partly because he knows he is no longer the smartest person on the planet. world is. room’

The four-part BBC series will hit screens next year.

The original Inspector Lynley series was initially canceled in 2017, with the final series cut from four episodes to just two.

Show star Nathaniel Parker expressed his dismay at the show’s cancellation, complaining that they had not had a chance to tie up loose ends and claiming that the series had been ‘abandoned’.

He told Daily Mail at the time: ‘My first reaction was: ‘But why?’ The ratings were always so good… You try to be resigned about these things, but I was a little baffled

“I wish they had given us the chance to sign to tie up all the loose ends.” Instead, it’s just abandoned.”