Iconic crime drama Dalziel and Pascoe confirms stars for ITV series reboot

Dalziel and Pascoe are making a comeback to television after nearly two decades away - but this time, the detective partnership will have a fresh look.

Whilst the storylines will once again draw from Reginald Hill's novels, the new adaptation will see female leads taking centre stage. The original small-screen version of the crime drama, which aired on the BBC, featured Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan in the titular roles.

This time around, 52-year-old actress and comedian Kerry Godliman steps into the shoes of Detective Inspector Andrea Dalziel, a veteran officer unafraid to bend the rules when necessary. Her junior partner, Detective Sergeant Paige Pascoe, will be portrayed by Virdee star Nina Singh, who favours a more conventional approach.

Kerry, whose credits include Trigger Point and After Life, shared with the Mirror: "I'm so chuffed to be playing the assertively charming DI Andrea Dalziel. 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 as we reimagine Dalziel and Pascoe to a new audience."

Nina, 30, admitted she could hardly believe her luck at securing the coveted role in the Britbox series, which will broadcast on ITV in the UK and begins production this spring. "It's an absolute honour to be playing Pascoe to Kerry Godliman's Dalziel," she declared, reports the Mirror.

She continued: "I find Kerry hilarious, so I know at times I'll struggle not to be laughing. 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."

ITV's head of scripted comedy, Nana Hughes, revealed they were attracted to the revival due to the proposed modifications. "Dalziel and Pascoe with a female-led cast is what caught our eye on this one," she explained.

"Kerry Godliman and Nina Singh will bring a fresh perspective to the series."

The original detective programme captivated BBC viewers, drawing audiences of up to 10 million between 1996 and 2007 across 12 series. The crime drama was predominantly set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Wetherton, where the mismatched duo investigated countless murders throughout the region.

Amongst the most cherished British police dramas, audiences adored how their contrasting investigative approaches clashed yet their partnership flourished, aided by the wit they employed to navigate their cases. The upcoming six-part series promises to be a "fresh and contemporary reimagining" of Hill's narratives, scheduled to broadcast later this year.

Jonathan Fisher, executive producer at West Road Pictures, expressed confidence that the new cast would "breathe new life into these iconic characters".

Clarke passed away at 67 in 2014 following a brief illness, whilst Buchanan stepped back after the series concluded in 2007, subsequently working as a jobbing actor for several years, including an appearance on Casualty.

The BBC's Saturday night screening of American drama Cagney and Lacey during the 1980s achieved tremendous popularity. More recently, ITV enjoyed considerable success with its all-female police drama Scott and Bailey, featuring Susanne Jones and Lesley Sharp, which captivated audiences across five series from 2011, attracting over 9 million viewers.