New detective series to rival Vera to air in a matter of days – as hit ITV drama comes to an end
JUST as Vera will soon come to an end, a brand new rival detective series is set to air in a matter of days.
The long-running drama series will soon conclude on ITV, just as Channel 5 will seek to capture the attention of viewers.
The commercial broadcaster has seized the opportunity to recruit a whole new female officer to take the place of DCI Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn).
Along with Acorn TV, it has given the green light for a new feature length three-part series called Ellis.
It will follow the determined DCI Ellis (Sharon Clarke), who is known for cracking unsolved crimes.
Each instalment will last two-hours and it will also star Carnival Row and Outlander star Andrew Gower as her sidekick, DS Harper.
The series will make its way to screens on Thursday October 31st, with the first episode being screened at 8pm.
It will follow the detective pair as they arrive in a new and unfamiliar town.
Three-time Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke was previously chosen for the leading role.
This was after her work in huge projects such as Showtrial, Lost Boys & Fairies, and Rocketman.
The detective duo arrive in a new town where Ellis goes all out to win over the local detectives and help them to solve open mysteries.
Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Paramount UK, previously gushed: “Ellis is a brilliant addition to our scripted slate, and we are thrilled to be working with the teams at Acorn TV and Company Pictures on this gripping new series.
“I can’t wait to see the incredible Sharon D Clarke bring DCI Ellis to life.”
Oscar nominated actress Brenda Blethyn, 78, previously received acclaim after she first appeared as Detective Vera Stanhope in 2011.
After nearly 14 years in the role, she seemed to want a change of direction and announced her decision to step away from the long-running series.
“Yeah, it was quite emotional,” she told The Sun Online when asked about the ending of the show.
Top Channel 5 dramas
Channel 5 has become a hub for gripping drama, these are some of the best My5 has to offer.
- All Creatures Great and Small – Based on the best-selling novels by real-life vet Alf Wright, the show revolves around a trio of vets working in the Yorkshire Dales in the late 1930s. Eccentric Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) hires James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) for his veterinary practice at Skeldale House alongside himself and his younger brother Tristan (Callum Woodhouse). There James settles into his new life and even finds love with local farmer’s daughter Helen (Rachel Shenton).
- The Ex-Wife – New parents Tasha (Céline Buckens) and Jack (Tom Misson) seem to have the perfect life, but the constant presence of Jack’s overly friendly but suspicious ex-wife Jen (Janet Montgomery) puts pressure on the couple. But as the series progresses it becomes less clear who the bad guy really is and how far everyone will go to get the life they think they deserve.
- Heat – EastEnders alum Danny Dyer leads this four-part action thriller, set in Australia, which sees two families holidaying together during bushfire season. But instead of rest and relaxation, secrets and lies start to unravel — and not everyone will make it out alive…
- Lie With Me – Another soap legend jets off to Australia, this time its EastEnders alum Charlie Brooks who takes as a married woman trying to saving her marriage by moving halfway around the world after her husband had an affair. However it’s far from plain sailing, as a young and attractive live-in nanny comes to work with the Fallmont family, and tensions soon build and eventually, someone ends up dead.
- The Drowning – Jill Halfpenny plays Jodie, a woman whose life is shattered following the disappearance of her beloved four-year-old son, Daniel. However, ten years later, the grieving mother thinks she’s finally found her missing child, and embarks on a journey to discover the truth about him. But has she really just found the son she has been missing for so long?
“Hopefully it’s up to its normal standard, and I’ve not seen them yet the last two episodes.”
She added: “[But] the stories are all good.”
Ellis will be available to watch on Channel 5 from 8pm on Thursday, October 31st.