The Northumbria Mysteries is set to begin on BBC One next week, with Robson Green (Grantchester, The Game) in the lead role as ex-con Joe Ruby.
The popular actor has described his gambler character as “a guy seeking redemption”, and someone that has “always been lured into temptation despite having a good heart and wanting to do the right thing”.
“He’s a charmer, but he’s fallible and through the choices he has made along the way he has lost everything,” Green added (via the BBC).
BBC
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The Northumbria Mysteries is set along the Northumberland coastline, as well as the surrounding market towns, and will feature an unlikely crime-solving duo made up of Green’s Ruby and an Oxford-educated detective played by Liz White (Unforgotten, Call the Midwife).
When asked whether he took inspiration from anywhere for the role, Green joked: “Well I look a lot like him!”, before continuing: “There was a great series in the ’80s called Big Deal with a character called Robby Box played by Ray Brooks – he was a small-time London gambler, I remember that. Paul Newman in The Hustler is amazing – I love how he works and the choices he made as an actor. He’s always a real inspiration for me.”
Meanwhile, Liz White said of her character, who appears to be concealing a secret: “DI Rose O’Connell is an experienced detective who for reasons as yet unshared, has moved to Northumberland and taken a post in the force up there.
“She believes in an evidence-based approach and is less inclined to act on instant than her younger, less experienced colleague, DS Raj Singh (Gurjeet Singh). She lives alone and, as a way to meet new people in the area, she embarks on a series of unsuccessful dates. Rose is dedicated to her job and has an understated confidence in her ability to reach justice.”
BBC
BBC
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White said that she’s been “subliminally inspired” by the female officers she’s seen on screen over the years, name-checking Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect and Anna Carteret as Juliet Bravo as stand outs.
As for what audiences can expect from The Northumbria Mysteries, which will take the 2pm slot in the BBC schedule, Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime Helen Munson has said: “If you like your drama to have a weekly dose of clever mystery and a unique but likeable crime fighting duo at its heart, then The Northumbria Mysteries is your brand-new binge watch.
“Set along the coastline and in the countryside of beautiful Northumberland, expect murder, intrigue, and a reluctant duo who just can’t help getting in each other’s way.”
The Northumbria Mysteries premieres on BBC One on Friday 23 October at 2pm.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).