A dead monk, an ex-convict looking for redemption, and a detective who probably wishes everyone would just follow the rules. Welcome to ‘The Northumbria Mysteries‘, a brand-new BBC crime drama starring Robson Green (Grantchester) and Liz White (Life on Mars), which arrives on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this October.
Set against the spectacular Northumberland coastline and its surrounding market towns, the eight-part series brings together two people who really shouldn’t make a particularly effective crime-solving team. Naturally, that means they probably will.
Green stars as Joe Ruby, a former convict, gambler and general risk-taker who has spent much of his life on the wrong side of the law. These days, he’s attempting to turn things around by volunteering at a local priory, tending the grounds and seeking forgiveness under the watchful eye of Father David, played by Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral).
Unfortunately, his peaceful new existence is somewhat disrupted when the body of a monk turns up hastily buried on the priory grounds. You’d think a religious community might be one of the safer places to avoid a murder investigation, but apparently not.
Enter DI Rose O’Connell, played by White, an Oxford-educated detective with a razor-sharp intellect, an ice-cool disposition and very little patience for people who don’t do things properly.
Alongside her enthusiastic but inexperienced colleague DS Raj Singh, played by Gurjeet Singh, Rose begins investigating the suspicious death. However, when Joe starts offering unexpected insights based on his rather colourful criminal past, she reluctantly discovers that he might actually be useful.
An Ex-Con, A Detective And A Very Unlikely Partnership
Speaking about his character, Green explains that Joe is a man trying to put his mistakes behind him, although his old habits aren’t necessarily that easy to shake.
“Joe Ruby is a guy seeking redemption. He’s a gambler and a risk taker and someone who has always been lured into temptation despite having a good heart and wanting to do the right thing. He’s a charmer, but he’s fallible and through the choices he has made along the way he has lost everything.”
White describes Rose as an experienced detective who has moved to Northumberland for reasons that haven’t yet been revealed. She prefers hard evidence to gut instinct and has an understated confidence in her abilities, although her personal life isn’t quite so straightforward.
Living alone in the area, Rose attempts to meet new people through a series of unsuccessful dates. It seems solving murders might actually be the easier part of her life.
White also reveals that she drew inspiration from some familiar television detectives, including Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect and Anna Carteret in Juliet Bravo.
“Rose is a grafter and gives the air at least, of being the smartest person in the room.”
Meanwhile, Singh’s character Raj is keen to make his mark on the police force, even if his enthusiasm occasionally gets the better of him.
“He might be lacking in life experience compared to his partner DI Rose O’Connell. But he definitely makes up for it with his love of the job and his enthusiasm. Sometimes a little too enthusiastic.”
The actor also reveals that Raj takes inspiration from famous fictional detectives, imagining him preparing for work with all the confidence of a television crime-fighting legend, even if he’s not quite grown into the role yet.
Then there’s Father David, the priory’s thoughtful and compassionate leader, who is attempting to guide Joe towards a better life.
Callow describes him as “a man of great clarity of thought, of compassion and imagination, with a profound inner life into which he tries gently to introduce Joe. With mixed results.”
Given Joe’s background, those mixed results are probably inevitable.
Northumberland Is Very Much Part Of The Cast
Alongside the murders and mismatched personalities, the other major attraction of ‘The Northumbria Mysteries’ is its setting.
Filming took place across Northumberland, including Holy Island, Rothbury, Bamburgh and Alnwick, with the region’s spectacular coastline and historic buildings providing the backdrop for the investigations.
For Green, who comes from the North East, the opportunity to work so close to home was particularly special.
“I particularly enjoyed Bamburgh Castle and Budle Bay. My dad used to have a caravan and we’d go there so it brought back loads of lovely memories. We’d go swimming in the bay together. We both liked cold water swimming, I still do.”
White was equally impressed by the locations, particularly a week spent filming around Bamburgh Castle and Dunstanburgh Castle.
“Northumberland is staggeringly beautiful. Every single location we visited took my breath away.”
Singh also praised the landscape, revealing that one of his favourite experiences was watching the sunrise from the sea floor at Holy Island. However, he says having Green around was an added bonus thanks to the actor’s extensive knowledge of the local wildlife and countryside, describing him as “Like the North East’s David Attenborough.”
Given Green’s extensive history of presenting outdoor and nature programmes, that’s probably a fairly accurate description!
The series also features guest appearances from Paula Wilcox (Man About the House), Cathy Tyson (Band of Gold) and Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing).
A New Mystery From The North East
‘The Northumbria Mysteries’ comes from Newcastle-based Lonesome Pine Productions, with support from the North East Production Fund, delivered by North East Screen on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership. Banijay Rights is handling international distribution.
Lesley Douglas, co-founder of Lonesome Pine Productions, says the project has been particularly special for the production company.
“This series has been a labour of love for everyone at Lonesome Pine.”
The drama was commissioned by Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, with Helen Munson serving as Commissioning Editor.
With an unusual detective partnership, a collection of eccentric suspects and some stunning scenery, the series looks set to appeal to fans of traditional British whodunnits. There is something rather appealing about the idea of a meticulous police detective being repeatedly helped, and presumably irritated, by a former criminal who knows rather more about the dodgier side of life than she does.
And if the mysteries aren’t enough to keep you watching, Northumberland should at least provide some excellent ideas for your next holiday.
‘The Northumbria Mysteries‘ Season 1 premieres Friday, 23rd October 2026 at 2pm on BBC One, with the first four episodes also available on BBC iPlayer from the same day.
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