Hit ITV cop drama starring Adrian Dunbar returns for second series – but it’s bittersweet for Line Of Duty fans
Adrian Dunbar’s ITV police drama Ridley returns for a second series.
The actor, 64, plays former Detective Inspector Alex Ridley, who was brought back from early retirement due to a nervous breakdown following the loss of his wife and daughter.
But it’s bad news for Line Of Duty fans hoping for a revival of the BBC show, as Adrian’s filming schedule is booked out by Ridley.
Rumors have it that the AC-12 trio will be back for another series of Line Of Duty, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Adrian said: ‘There can be no greater support for hard work and talent than the re-commissioning of a series and so we must thank ITV and the British public for going to Ridley in such numbers.
Return: Adrian Dunbar’s ITV police drama Ridley returns for a second series
Hit: But it’s bad news for Line Of Duty fans hoping for a BBC show revival as Adrian’s filming schedule is booked out by Ridley
“We will certainly work just as hard to maintain the standard we’ve set, and I look forward to developing Ridley as a character over the next four episodes.”
Adrian’s alter ego resumes working with former protégé, DI Carol Farman – played by Bronagh Waugh – who is now in charge of the investigations.
BBC bosses are reportedly struggling to find a time for the three main stars – Adrian, Martin Compston and Vicky McClure – to film in Ireland as Adrian will be busy with Ridley while Martin works on the second series of The Rig .
“The biggest hurdle for the Beeb has been getting all three protagonists together because their schedules are so busy,” a TV insider told me. The sun.
“They had pinned their hopes on Martin finishing filming the second series of Prime Video’s thriller, The Rig, by the fall.
“But that’s about the same time Adrian starts working on Ridley. The hope is that because the second series only lasts four parts, it won’t prove to be a major obstacle.’
Ridley – created and written by ‘Vera’ head writer Paul Matthew Thompson – returns with four two-hour films.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
Gripping: Set in rural Todmorden, Yorkshire, series one follows Ridley as he is taken out of retirement to serve as a consultant in a complex murder case
Series one is set in rural Todmorden, Yorkshire, and follows Ridley as he is brought out of retirement to serve as a consultant on a complex murder case.
Along with Detective Inspector Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh), Ridley was tasked with finding out who killed local sheep farmer Jesse Halpin (Rob Mitchell-James), who had previously been interviewed in connection with the disappearance of three-year-old Zoe Lindsay, aged 13 . past.
It was eventually revealed that Haplin kidnapped Zoe to replace the little girl he and his wife Moll Halpin (played by Jennifer Hennessy) lost after she died in an accident.
However, when Haplin threatened to tell 17-year-old Zoe, whom they had raised as Catherine, her true identity, Moll killed him with a gun.
Moll collapsed at her little girl’s grave in front of Detectives Ridley and Farman after discovering clues to Catherine’s true identity in her bedroom – including a favorite doll of Zoe’s and photographs.
She was arrested and taken to the police station – but not before telling a shocked Catherine her real identity.