Suspects gets third series commission

Crime drama Suspects will return in January 2015 for a third series of four new episodes, Channel 5 has confirmed.

The semi-improvised series, starring Fay Ripley, Damien Molony and Clare-Hope Ashitey became the highest rating original drama in five years for the channel.

The third series will see a stellar guest cast line-up including: Emmett J. Scanlan (The Fall), Chris Coghill (24 Hour Party People), Jody Latham (Shameless), Ben Peel (The Fall), Ray Fearon (Da Vinci’s Demons), Lucy Gaskell (Misfits), and Kathryn Drysdale (Benidorm).

The new series opens with the return of DS Jack Weston (Damien Molony) after his period of enforced leave. DI Martha Bellamy (Fay Ripley) is pleased to have Jack back, but makes no bones about it: this is his last chance…

Meanwhile DC Charlie Steele (Clare-Hope Ashitey) is beside herself worrying if could she have prevented a horrific crime? The pressure’s on Jack to step up to the plate as Charlie’s sergeant, and keep everyone’s focus on the case.

Suspects is co-created and executive-produced by Paul Marquess (The Bill, Hollyoaks).

The four episodes of Suspects will air across one fortnight in January.