After the latest series of Vera pulled in in excess of seven million viewers, its author Ann Cleeves will soon see another one of her novels turned into a primetime TV drama.
It was announced earlier this year that Ann's crime thriller The Long Call would follow Vera onto ITV, with a cast including Our Girl actor Ben Aldridge, who will take the leading role.
Viewers are set to be gripped over four consecutive nights by the drama which is driven by an intriguing and flawed protagonist, Ben's character Detective Inspector Matthew Venn, who has returned to live in a small community in North Devon with his husband, Jonathan.
It’s a place Matthew walked away from 20 years ago, after being rejected by his family but he makes an unexpected return, not just to mourn his father at a distance, but to take charge of his first major murder.
READ MORE: Holly and Phillip shaken by This Morning caller's cheating woes
A body has been found on the beach near to Matthew's new home: a man with the tattoo of an albatross on his neck, has been stabbed to death, with the investigation unearthing a community where murder and intrigue bubble beneath the surface.
Crime fiction fans will get their first look at The Long Call on Monday, October 25 at 9pm, with the other parts following on October 26, 27 and 28.
In a busy spell for Ann's novels on screen, Shetland will also soon return to BBC for a new series.
And, teasing both, Ann tweeted: "I do feel a bit overwhelmed - both The Long Call and Shetland on this autumn. Wild Britain in all its glory from the Northern Isles to the West Country, beautifully filmed. I'm a very lucky bunny."
Excited about The Long Call, ITV's Head of Drama, Polly Hill commented: "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."
See the latest news i n your area by receiving email updates
