ITV Orders Cold Case Drama Based On Novel ‘The Distant Echo’ By ‘The Wire in the Blood’ Author Val McDermid
ITV has commissioned ‘Karen Pirie’ (w/t), a new cold case murder drama based on the Val McDermid novel The Distant Echo, the broadcaster has announced.
Karen is a refreshingly normal and charmingly unfashionable young woman – slick, maverick cop she is not – but her quick mouth and ingenuity make her an impressive investigator. Following her promotion to Police Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit, Karen is tasked with reopening the investigation into a murder that has been the subject of a provocative true-crime podcast. When teenage barmaid Rosie Duff was stabbed to death in 1995, suspicion fell on the three drunken students who discovered her body. But despite police suspicion, the boys were never charged.
Nearly 25 years on, DS Karen Pirie is determined to uncover what happened that fateful night. Do the men know more than they previously revealed? When Karen uncovers flaws in the initial investigation, she finds herself in conflict with the very officers who led the original hunt for the killer.
The drama is adapted by Emer Kenny (‘Harlots’, ‘Save Me Too’) based on the novel The Distant Echo, the first in a series of best-selling novels about the young Scottish female detective set in the beautiful Scottish university town of St. Andrew’s. World Productions, who were behind ‘Line of Duty’ and ‘Bodyguard’, produce the series.
“From the moment I read that Karen Pirie orders a Bacardi Breezer as her after-work drink (other brands of alco-pop are available) I knew that she was the detective for me,” comments writer Kenny. “Val is the queen of crime for good reason and I’m honoured to be bringing her creation to a TV audience, especially for ITV which has been home to some of my favourite detective shows, from Broadchurch to Prime Suspect. Of course, I’m delighted to be working with World Productions again, who really know their way around a crime drama.”
The series will be executive produced by Simon Heath, World Production’s CEO. World has been producing critically acclaimed, award-winning drama since 1990 and was awarded Best Independent Production Company at both the Broadcast Awards and the Edinburgh TV Festival in 2019.
“Emer has brilliantly realised Val McDermid’s iconic detective, Karen Pirie, and the rich crime stories Police Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit investigate,” adds ITV Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair Jones. “We’re thrilled to be working with Simon Heath and World Productions to bring such an exciting new series to the ITV audience.”
The novels of crime writer Val McDermid have sold over 16 million copies worldwide. The Hill Jordan series of novels was adapted into ‘Wire in the Blood’ starring Robson Green for ITV.
“I’m sure this adaptation will bring Karen many new fans as well as delighting her existing ones,” said McDermid. “Karen and the Historic Cases Unit are in very safe hands!”
Filming on ‘Karen Pirie’ (w/t) will take place in Scotland and casting details will be announced in due course.
