UKTV and  US network Masterpiece have co-commissioned Annika (6×60’) based on the Radio 4 drama written by Nick Walker.

The show, that will run on UKTV’s crime drama channel, Alibi will see Olivier-award-winner Nicola Walker (The Split, Unforgotten) bring the leading character, DI Annika Strandhed, to screen.

The series is produced by Black Camel Pictures for Alibi and All3Media International.

Annika follows the sharp, witty and enigmatic DI Annika Strandhed (Walker), as she heads up a new specialist Marine Homicide Unit (MHU) tasked with investigating the unexplained, brutal, and seemingly unfathomable murders that wash up in the waterways of Scotland. Throughout the series, Annika makes the audience her confidante by breaking the fourth wall and sharing her wry observations on the case and her life, as she manages her brilliant yet unconventional team, and her equally brilliant yet complex teenage daughter.

Nicola Walker said: “Annika navigates the world, her work and her home life in fabulously unique and unusual ways and I can’t wait to see her come to life in Scotland.”

UKTV Original series Annika has been commissioned by drama commissioner Philippa Collie Cousins with head of scripted Pete Thornton. The series is ordered by Alibi channel director Emma Ayech. Richard Watsham is director of commissioning for UKTV and Adrian Wills is genre general manager for drama and lifestyle.

The series is produced by Black Camel Pictures and executive producers are Arabella Page Croft and Kieran Parker, with funding support from Screen Scotland. Directing the six-part series are Philip John (The Good Karma Hospital, Downton Abbey) and Fiona Walton (London Kills, Waterloo Road).

Phillippa Collie Cousins said: “Our new detective series Annika is a breath of fresh air: a whip smart detective, great cases and the glorious Scottish scenery. Nicola Walker has been integral in helping us develop her character, creating a maverick female detective who not only has Norwegian ancestry, but is dryly funny, a chaotic parent and a fish out of water.  We’re also really excited to have a diverse writer’s room with lead writer, Nick Walker and emerging talents, Frances Poet and Lucia Haynes.”

Emma Ayech added: “We’re so excited to bring Annika to life in a brand-new TV adaptation. Nicola Walker is a fantastic lead, making this series a brilliant addition to our growing portfolio of UKTV Original dramas on Alibi.”

Arabella Page Croft, co-founder of Black Camel Pictures, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to bring Nick Walker’s radio show Annika to life as a new marine homicide crime drama series. The show feels right at home in the cinematic landscape of Scotland’s dramatic lochs, rivers and seascapes. Fabulous Nicola Walker as Annika is already adored by audiences in Nick Walker’s hit radio series, so it’s a simply wonderful opportunity to bring this engaging, energetic show to a much wider audience with our broadcast partner Alibi and partners All3Media, Masterpiece and Screen Scotland.”

 

Jon Creamer

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