Lynley, a new version of the popular crime novel, acquired by the BBC

The BBC has acquired Lynley, an upcoming contemporary update of the compelling mystery crime series based on Elizabeth George’s best-selling novels, for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Leo Suter (Vikings: Valhalla) and Sofia Barclay (Ted Lasso) star as the unconventional detective duo DI Tommy Lynley and DS Barbara Havers in the series, which is currently in production in Ireland. They are joined by Daniel Mays (Magpie Murders), Niamh Walsh (The English Game), Michael Workeye (My Lady Jane) and Joshua Sher (Vera).

The four-part series, created by production company Playground (Wolf Hall, All Creatures Great and Small), was commissioned by BritBox US in collaboration with the BBC.

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 quirky 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.

Daniel Mays plays DCI Brian Nies, the sharp-witted, suspicious senior detective on 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 in the 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 says: “I’m delighted to see Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers returning to television, especially thanks to the participation of the BBC and Britbox and the production expertise of Playground. It’s a real treat to see my characters come to life on television.”

Writer and executive producer Steve Thompson says: “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.”

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Program Acquisition, said: “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, and for viewers who have yet to encounter the series. magnetic pull of Lynley.”

Lynley (4×90′) is created and written by Steve Thompson (Vienna Blood, Sherlock), Ed Bazalgette (Marie Antoinette S2, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die) serves as lead director with Suzanne McAuley (Magpie Murders, Love/Hate) as series producer. The executive producers are Steve Thompson, David Stern and Colin Callender for Playground, Robert Schildhouse, Stephen Nye, Jon Farrar and Jess O’ Riordan for BritBox, Kate Woods for BBC Studios and Sue Deeks for the BBC. The drama is distributed internationally by BBC Studios.

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