‘Ridley’: Adrian Dunbar Detective Drama Renewed For Season 2 At ITV
ITV has renewed the detective series ‘Ridley‘ starring Adrian Dunbar in the title role, the UK broadcaster has announced.
Season one introduced us to charismatic former Detective Inspector Alex Ridley (Dunbar), who retired from the police after years of dedicated service having lost his wife and daughter in a devastating arson attack on their family home. The retired detective turned police consultant will resume his partnership with former protégée, DI Carol Farman, played by Bronagh Waugh (The Suspect, Unforgotten, The Fall), who is now in charge of investigations.
Inspired by real-life retired detectives re-joining police forces in a consultancy role given increasingly over-stretched resources, ‘Ridley’ explores thought-provoking crime stories in an original and distinctive way.
“There can be no greater endorsement of hard work and talent than the recommission of a series and to that end, we have to thank ITV and the British public for taking to Ridley in such numbers,” said Dunbar. “We shall certainly work just as hard to keep the standard we have set and I look forward to developing Ridley as a character over the next four episodes.”
‘Ridley’ is written and created by Paul Matthew Thompson, one of the lead writers of ITV’s iconic detective drama, ‘Vera’, and co-created by Jonathan Fisher (Blood, Hollington Drive, Penance), Managing Director of West Road Pictures. Both will act as Executive Producers alongside Ingrid Goodwin. Juliet Charlesworth (Stay Close, Happy Valley, Scott & Bailey) returns to produce season two.
“We can’t wait to welcome Adrian back to ITV as we return to the beautiful Lancashire countryside for four brand new cases for Ridley and the team to investigate,” adds ITV Drama Commissioner Huw Kennair. “And we’re looking forward to working with West Road Pictures and Paul Matthew Thompson on what promises to be another great series.”
‘Ridley’ returns to solve more crimes in four two-hour films written by Paul Matthew Thompson with Julia Gilbert (Midsomer Murders) and Michael Bhim (Vera) each writing an episode. Thompson, an RTS Award-winning writer, is also known for writing and creating ‘Shakespeare and Hathaway – Private Investigators’, and for his work on the ‘Father Brown’ series. ‘Ridley’ is a West Road Pictures Production for ITV in association with All3Media International who is the drama’s global partner.
“Thrilled to be working with Jonathan Fisher and West Road Pictures again to bring Ridley back to our screens,” adds Thompson. “Adrian Dunbar’s brilliant portrayal struck a chord with ITV viewers, and I can’t wait to share what happens next, as the singing detective settles into his new role of Copelton Police Consultant. Ridley’s unique and idiosyncratic approach to crime-solving will once more be at the forefront of each feature-length investigation. His animated partnership with DI Carol Farman will be tested, as together they set out to solve some dark and unsettling crimes.”
The first series, which aired in 2022, launched with 7.1m viewers and averaged 6.3m over its four episodes. This was ITV1’s 4th biggest new drama launch that year.
‘Ridley‘ Season 2 does not have a UK premiere date, but begins filming across Northern England in Autumn 2023. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
