RIDLEY: ADRIAN DUNBAR TO STAR IN ITV DETECTIVE DRAMA

ITV has commissioned contemporary detective drama, Ridley, starring Adrian Dunbar, written by RTS award winning writer Paul Matthew Thompson and produced by West Road Pictures.

The 4x120' series will introduce charismatic Detective Inspector Alex Ridley, who is retiring from the police after years of dedicated service. After twenty-five years as a homicide copper, Ridley has been nudged out of the job he loves. But the prospect of retirement is not a particularly welcome one as he's been cut off in his prime.

Inspired by real life retired detectives re-joining police forces in a consultancy role given increasingly over-stretched resources, Ridley will explore thought provoking crime stories in an original and distinctive way.

Adrian Dunbar, best known for Line Of Duty, said: “I don’t think I’ve ever headed into a production with more excitement and enthusiasm. As an actor I know how rare it is to be given such a wonderful opportunity, and the combination of Polly Hill and Chloe Tucker at ITV and Jonathan Fisher at West Road Pictures means we are in both safe and creative hands...

He continued: "Jonathan and I worked closely together on the very successful series Blood, and I'm confident we can bring some of that magic to Ridley. Here’s to getting the team together and developing a show that audiences can find both entertaining and engaging."

Jonathan Fisher said: “I couldn’t be happier to be getting started on Ridley, as we continue to build the West Road production slate with our second commission for ITV. We’re so excited to be teaming up once again with the inimitable Adrian Dunbar, bringing to life Paul Matthew Thompson’s characterful and engaging scripts. ITV has a fine tradition of nurturing much-loved detective series, and it’s a real privilege to be bringing Ridley to the channel.”

Ridley will begin filming later this autumn.

Image: The Telegraph