By Sara Doktorova
They were the odd-couple detectives who drew a TV audience of millions in the 1990s and 2000s, and now hit cop show Dalziel and Pascoe is set to be reborn – with a fresh twist in the tale.
Kerry Godliman and Nina Singh will star in the roles made famous by Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan in ITV’s reboot of the BBC police procedural, based on the books by crime writer Reginald Hill.
As DI Andrea Dalziel, actor and stand-up comedian Godliman (After Life, Trigger Point) puts a new spin on Clarke’s gruff, blunt, old-school cop. Singh, best known from the BBC crime drama Virdee, plays booksmart DS Paige Pascoe. Filming is underway this spring.
“I’m so chuffed to be playing the assertively charming Detective Inspector Andrea Dalziel,” said Godliman. “It’s a juicy role as she’s such an interesting personality – accomplished at her job, warm, but also direct to the point of being abrasive. Weary and warm hearted. Lots to get my teeth into!”
“It’s an absolute honour to be playing Pascoe to Kerry Godliman’s Dalziel,” said Nina Singh. “I find Kerry hilarious, so I know at times I’ll struggle not to be laughing. Colette Kane and the writing team have incorporated humour so well into the scripts at the same time as keeping you constantly guessing what’ll happen next – in true Dalziel and Pascoe form.”
The new-look, six-part drama will will be directed by Isher Sahota (Run Away) and produced by Juliet Charlesworth (Happy Valley). It’s co-created for television by Colette Kane (Department Q, Vera) and Daisy Martey (Vikings: Valhalla). Other writers on the series include new duo Chris Ryden and Jon Rowe, and Danusia Samal (Gangs of London, Bodies).
It’s produced by West Road Pictures. “It is a real honour to be reimagining Reginald Hill’s iconic detective series for a contemporary audience,” said Jonathan Fisher, managing director of West Road Pictures. “We hope that viewers will fall in love with this unlikely yet brilliant pairing all over again.”
The original incarnation of Dalziel and Pascoe launched in 1996, and aired on British television for 12 series. It was axed in 2008 with falling ratings, but was still pulling in audiences in excess of five million in its final run.
