New BBC detective show set in north-east England
BBC/Rivers Meet Productions/Signpost Entertainment/Zoila BrozasA new TV show starring Robson Green is to be set and produced in north-east England.
The Northumbria Mysteries will star Green as jack-of-all trades Joe Ruby unravelling a series of crimes in Northumberland.
The show is part of the BBC's North East Creative Cluster - a programme designed to strengthen production and skills in the region.
Newcastle's Lonesome Pine Productions is creating the new crime drama and its executive producer, Lesley Douglas, said she "could not be happier to have Robson Green lead the cast".
"Working with the BBC to realise these characters has been a labour of love," she said.
In the show Joe Ruby, whose life has been shaped by mistakes and missed opportunities, will team up with Oxford-educated DI Rose O'Connell - casting to be announced - to solve mysteries.
The creative cluster will also produce more short films in the region for The One Show, as well as a new adaptation of Sue Townend's book The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾.
The 10-part series was announced in November and will be filmed at The Northern Studios in Hartlepool and on location in Hartlepool and Sunderland.
Four independent production companies have also been selected to take part in the BBC's Digital Accelerator.
The scheme, which is being run in partnership with North East Screen, will create content for 16 to 24 year olds on YouTube, TikTok and Twitch.
The companies selected are County Durham's Adventure Alliance Films, Gateshead's Film Nova, Newcastle's Northern Child and Middlesbrough's Wander Films.
BBC commissioner for daytime and early peak, Helen Munson, said it was an "exciting time for the North East".
"From fantastic new drama The Northumbria Mysteries with Lonesome Pine to the development opportunities across digital and The One Show, the BBC is committed to working with the world class talent this region has to offer," she said.
"And there's more to come, so watch this space."
