DCI Banks faces “grittiest series”

Stephen Tompkinson (Trollied, Wild At Heart) is to return for a fifth series of popular crime drama DCI Banks, ITV has confirmed.

The six-part series is described as the “grittiest series” as Banks is faced with his toughest investigation yet when he is forced to question all that he holds dear, as he pits his detective skills against criminals who will stop at nothing to escape the law.

When Banks confronts a powerful adversary who has been dubbed by his superiors as too big to bring down, Banks’ dogged pursuit of justice sets in motion a chain of events that rips at the very fabric of his life, both professional and personal. Banks needs his team around him but Helen’s rule-following approach threatens to undermine him and her desire for promotion could cause a divisive rift.  Spurred on by Helen’s ambition, Annie pursues her own results-driven, gut instinct style of policing, and Ken faces a dilemma when he is entrusted with a secret about Annie’s marriage.

Also reprising their roles is Andrea Lowe (Love Life, Monroe) as DS Annie Cabbot and Caroline Catz (Doc Martin) as DI Helen Morton.

The series is inspired by the books of acclaimed novelist Peter Robinson and produced by Left Bank Pictures. The writer is Chris Murray (Lewis, New Tricks, Midsomer Murders), Nicholas Hicks-Beach (Lewis, DCI Banks, Law & Order: UK) and Paul Logue (DCI Banks, Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise).

ITV by Director of Drama, Steve November: “DCI Banks has become a firm favourite with the ITV drama audience and this series will be the grittiest yet,” said Jane.  “We’ll see the team embark on an investigation that will truly change things forever.”

Commented Stephen Tompkinson: “I couldn’t be more thrilled that I is returning.  Series five is taking us to its most dramatic place so far and I can’t wait to be reunited with the cast and crew to make our most memorable series to date.”

DCI Banks will begin filming in the stunning county of Yorkshire in early 2016.