TV is heading back into the world of twisty, character-driven crime drama as the broadcaster orders ‘Winter‘, a six-part police procedural led by Richard Armitage (Missing You, Red Eye, Fool Me Once) and Annabel Scholey (The Sixth Commandment, Rivals, The Split). Produced by Eagle Eye Drama in co-production with MASTERPIECE, the series sets up an intriguing forensic murder mystery set against the streets of Bristol.
The drama introduces Dr Ethan Winter, one of the most gifted and most unconventional forensic pathologists working today. His extraordinary analytical mind and razor-sharp deductive reasoning make him a standout investigator, even if his rule-breaking tendencies give colleagues occasional heartburn. His methods are the perfect complement to DI Lauren Bell, played by Scholey, a meticulous, determined, no-nonsense detective who lives for the job. Together they form a formidable duo, with ‘Winter’ using standalone cases to showcase their dynamic while a darker personal arc simmers underneath.
Winter himself carries a secret: the unsolved murder of someone close to him continues to haunt his work and fuels an unofficial investigation running parallel to his day job. This emotional undercurrent threads through the entire season while each episode features its own self-contained case for the pair to unravel.
Speaking about the series, Richard Armitage said:
“The team behind Winter are second to none, and the ambition of David Allison’s scripts is very exciting and will attempt to shake up the genre that we’ve grown to love. Ethan Winter is a compelling character treading the line between diligent professional and reckless maverick. He has a painful secret and a fatalistic self-destruct button over which his finger constantly hovers. I’m thrilled to be returning to ITV.”
Co-star Annabel Scholey added:
“I am thrilled to be joining ITV and Eagle Eye Drama as part of the Winter team, and to be working alongside the brilliant Richard Armitage on these fantastic scripts. Our characters’ tempestuous relationship will be a total thrill to explore, and I am excited to step into the wonderfully dry shoes of DI Lauren Bell.”
ITV Drama Commissioner Callum Dziedzic, who will oversee the production, highlighted the show’s mix of science, mystery, and character depth, noting Armitage’s “soulful power” anchoring the scripts.
Eagle Eye Drama’s Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino describe ‘Winter’ as a stylish and visually distinctive entry into the forensic genre, drawing on the talents of directors Dries Vos and Kaat Beels. The series is adapted from the French hit Balthazar and will begin filming in Bristol and Belgium in early 2026.
The series will air on ITV and STV, with streaming on ITVX and STV Player, and will also be broadcast in the US via PBS MASTERPIECE.
‘Winter‘ does not yet have a premiere date but will air on ITV in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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