ROBSON GREEN is returning to British crime television with a new daytime drama set against the dramatic landscapes of the North East.
The and Wire in the Blood star , a brand-new daytime detective series set against the backdrop of the coastline.
The follows an unlikely crime-solving duo who form an unconventional partnership to solve a string of mysteries.
The story begins when a monk is found dead at a local priory where ex-convict Joe Ruby has been volunteering.
Joe is a jack-of-all-trades whose life has been shaped by mistakes, regrets and missed opportunities.
He seeks redemption but finds himself drawn into solving crimes alongside an Oxford-educated detective.
The pair must learn to work together despite their different backgrounds and personalities.
Their contrasting styles frustrate and confound one another as they navigate the criminal underworld of the North East.
Who is in the cast of The Northumbria Mysteries?
Robson Green as Joe Ruby
Northumberland native Robson Green leads as Joe Ruby.
Green is widely recognised for his roles in Soldier Soldier, Wire in the Blood, and ITV’s long-running mystery Grantchester, where he stars as DI Geordie Keating.
In this series, he switches sides of the law, using his intimate knowledge of how criminals think to spot crucial clues police investigations overlook.
Liz White as DI Rose O’Connell
Starring opposite Green is Liz White as Detective Inspector Rose O’Connell.
White is best known for her role as Annie Cartwright in the time-travel hit Life on Mars and Joy Simpson in , alongside film work including The Woman in Black.
Her character, Rose, is an Oxford-educated, by-the-book detective who moved north under unexplained circumstances and initially seems reluctant to collaborate with an ex-convict.
Gurjeet Singh as DS Raj Singh
Gurjeet Singh plays Detective Sergeant Raj Singh, DI O’Connell’s trusted right-hand man.
Singh is best known for his role as Naveed Haider in the drama Ackley Bridge, as well as appearances in .
Simon Callow as Father David
Acclaimed stage and screen actor Simon Callow plays Father David, the Prior overseeing the community where Joe works.
Callow, famous for roles in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, and Amadeus, serves as Joe’s moral support.
Chris Gascoyne as ‘Ace’ Dawson
Soap star Chris Gascoyne joins the cast as ‘Ace’ Dawson.
Best known for his 23-year turn as Peter Barlow on ‘s , Gascoyne returns to TV drama while also serving as an executive producer on the series.
The supporting ensemble also features Damola Adelaja as Brother Christopher Akintola, and Alex Croft as Brother Mark Bancroft.
When and where can you watch the series?
The Northumbria Mysteries premieres on at 2pm on Friday, October 23.
The eight 45-minute episodes will air in the daytime slot on Friday afternoons for the next few weeks.
Viewers who prefer to stream the series can find the first four episodes on from October 23.
The BBC has not yet confirmed the rollout details for the remaining four episodes.
The drama is part of the BBC’s North East Creative Cluster, a programme designed to boost investment, production activity and skills across the region.
Where was the drama filmed?
The series was filmed entirely on location in the North East of England.
Local residents spotted the cast and crew filming in several towns and villages across Northumberland.
Key included Morpeth, Rothbury, Amble, Seahouses, and Alnwick.
Production crews were also seen at landmarks such as Dunstanburgh Castle, Bamburgh Castle, and Brinkburn Priory.
Green, from Hexham, described the Northumberland landscape as a “principal character” in the drama, saying that the landmarks are “absolutely astonishing”.
