Fans of detective dramas, take note - ITV has announced a brand new series from a writer whose credits include true-crime series Des and BBC One's Baptiste.
The Long Call, based on the novel of the same name by Vera writer Ann Cleeves, will follow Detective Inspector Matthew Venn as he returns to his hometown 20 years after he was rejected by his family.
Back with his husband Jonathan, the viewer will first meet reserved and intense Matthew at his father's funeral - before being asked to take charge of his first major murder, after a man's body has been found on the beach.
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The four-part event drama will see us meet a rich ensemble of characters as Matthew tries to crack the case, with the stark beauty of North Devon serving as the series backdrop.
Kelly Jones will adapt and write the four episodes of the drama in her first solo work, having previously served as a screenwriter on Des, Baptiste, Call the Midwife and The Good Karma Hospital.
She will work alongside Creative Director Kate Bartlett (Flesh and Blood, Shetland, Vera, Dark Heart) who will work as an executive producer for the series.
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Speaking about the new series, Kate said: "The Long Call is a rich and deeply engrossing mystery with a whole host of new Cleeves characters led by the inimitable Matthew Venn.
"Just as the novel feels like a progression of Ann's writing, this feels like the opportunity to create a unique and ambitious event crime drama with a wholly iconic character at its heart."
Elsewhere, ITV Head of Drama Polly Hill said: "I'm delighted that ITV is working with Silverprint Pictures to bring another of Ann's brilliant novels to screen. It's very different to Vera, but I think audiences will take to DI Matthew Venn and this compelling story in the same way.
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"Kelly has written a wonderful adaptation and this promises to be a really distinctive and original new crime series."
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