'Line Of Duty' And 'Bodyguard' Creator Is Making A New Cold Case Drama Series

Jed Mercurio has created some of the best television shows in the past decade and he's back at it with his latest offering, Bloodlands.

Not content with the storming success of Line Of Duty and The Bodyguard, Jed will be producing the new cold case crime series written by Chris Brandon, set in Northern Ireland.

BBC)

James Nesbitt, who was raised in County Down, has been confirmed as the lead.

The series will follow police detective Tom Brannick, who discovers a suicide note in a car that has been pulled out of Strangford Lough, and quickly connects it to an infamous cold case with enormous personal significance.

Bloodlands follows his dogged hunt for a legendary assassin, an explosive cat-and-mouse game where the stakes have never been higher.

The Cold Feet actor said of his new role: "It's great to be back making a drama in and about Northern Ireland, which now has a film and television industry as good as any in the world.

BBC)

"We have compelling scripts from a brilliant young writer who was raised in County Down, which are very exciting and psychologically complex. I can't wait to start."

News of the series was announced at the Belfast Media Festival, with Chris Brandon saying he was thrilled to receive his first BBC commission.

"I'm absolutely delighted that the first opportunity I get to tell a story on this scale, it is one that is so close to home and the people and places that raised me.

"On top of that, to be telling it with James Nesbitt, Jed Mercurio and the incredible team at HTM is a total privilege.

BBC)

Jed's company HTM Production will help produce Bloodlands and will be filmed on location in Strangford Lough.

Line Of Duty, which has been one of the biggest shows for the BBC in recent years, was also filmed in Northern Ireland, with a sixth series on its way.

Jed's other success The Bodyguard, starring Richard Madden, became the most watched drama for the BBC in a decade when it aired last year.

It reached a peak of 11million viewers during the last five minutes of the finale.

If that's anything to go by then we're sure we're in for an exciting ride.

Topics: Television, BBC, Line of Duty

Natalie Corner

Natalie is a freelance journalist with a degree in journalism. She has previously written for Mirror Online, Mail Online, Dazed and Black Ballad as well as Tyla. She has a keen interest in all things viral, women's lifestyle and TV. To get in touch with the Tyla team, contact [email protected]

@nlcorner