Police duo return for their darkest case!

ITV drama Scott & Bailey is returning for a three-part special, starring Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp as the crime-fighting duo.

Made by Red Production Company, the series will feature a single crime story across the three episodes, and tackle one of the biggest and darkest cases they have ever had to face.

With DCI Gill Murray in retirement, ever-ambitious Rachel (Jones) returns from her Vice secondment fired up and full of new ideas and initiatives. She’s gained valuable experience and really wants to make her mark as she returns to Syndicate 9’s Murder Squad.

Exhilarated to step up to the plate, Rachel is exactly who Janet (Sharp) and the Squad need to move forward with a terrifying and sinister Internet crime investigation of epic scale and unrelenting horror. Using her Vice authorisation, Rachel accesses a disturbing world where people brag about committing murder and lay down the gauntlet for the next victim.  A game of ruthless life or death daring develops, as Scott & Bailey investigate multiple killers with horrifying and everlasting consequences.  They will be changed forever and the investigation will take a devastating toll on their private, professional and personal lives.

Sally Lindsay will also return as Rachel’s sister Alison.

Scott & Bailey was co-created by Suranne Jones and fellow actress Sally Lindsay. Lee Warburton, who penned series 4 , will write the new episodes with writer Paul Logan. Two new police advisors, Samantha Manning and Lisa Farrand join the series, as consultants.

Suranne Jones said: “I’m very excited to be returning to the series as Rachel Bailey and this time to be working alongside Nicola Shindler as an Executive Producer.”

Executive Producer Nicola Shindler said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Scott & Bailey with an investigation that will have everlasting consequences for the characters. This series is more ambitious and sinister than ever before and the concept of a three part story allows us the opportunity to tackle a story of epic scale and ambition.”

ITV’s Director of Drama Commissioning Steve November said: “Scott & Bailey is a firm favourite with ITV viewers who relate to the characters’ busy professional and working lives. We’re thrilled Red are reuniting Suranne and Lesley to play the iconic characters so deftly created by Sally Wainwright and Red’s production team.”

The new episodes of Scott & Bailey will be filmed in Oldham, Manchester and surrounding areas from September 2015.