Huge BBC detective series axed as beloved actress dealt crushing blow

Nicola Walker's character, Annika, will not be returning for a third series on the BBC. The 55 year old actress portrayed DI Annika Strandhed in two series of the detective drama.

However, UKTV, which airs the show on U+Alibi and BBC, has confirmed that despite the series ending on a cliffhanger, there are no plans to produce further episodes. A spokesperson told RadioTimes.com: "We are incredibly proud of the success of Annika on U+Alibi, but there are no current plans for a third series."

Annika was adapted from the BBC Radio 4 audio drama, Annika Stranded, where Nicola also played the lead role. The show was known for its unique approach, with the Marine Homicide Unit detective frequently breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly.

It comes after a number of shows have faced the axe over the last week. Noel Edmonds' Kiwi Adventures is reportedly not being renewed for a second series, and Adam and Ryan Thomas' gameshow 99 to Beat has also been axed.

Adam said about the axe: "When I am positive about something, it gets cancelled. Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Like I did [I'm a Celebrity spin off] Extra Camp presenting, did one series of that, got cancelled. The next presenting job I did was with Ryan, 99 to Beat, and that's got cancelled."

However, she explained that this narrative device was crucial when adapting the original audio drama. She said: "When he started discussing the television adaptation, my initial concern was how to bring to life a world that had previously existed solely within Annika's imagination.

Writer Nick Walker immediately declared: 'We're going to break the fourth wall!'"So, she still has Norwegian heritage, she is still an outsider, and she still has a different way of coping with life and work, but the hook is the fact that this is the only detective series where the audience is the silent sidekick. We are in cahoots with her."