After the Flood producer remaking one of the best BBC crime dramas nearly 20 years after it was cancelled
An iconic detective duo will finally return to our screens...
After the Flood is almost over (or maybe you’ve binged it already), but don’t fret: its producer is “reimagining” a classic BBC crime drama.
Juliet Charlesworth has produced some incredible TV shows, whether it’s underrated projects like Hit and Miss and Ridley, or an iconic all-timer – namely, Happy Valley.
After the success of the new series, demand is already mounting for After the Flood series 3.
However, while ITV has yet to confirm a third season, the broadcaster revealed Charlesworth’s next project: a remake of Dalziel and Pascoe.
Dalziel and Pascoe remake coming to ITV after BBC cancellation
A “fresh and contemporary reimagining” of Dalziel and Pascoe is officially coming to ITV.
Based on Reginald Hill’s long-running series of novels (24, to be exact), the original series followed the titular detectives (played by Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan, respectively) as they investigated crimes and mysteries in the fictional town of Wetherton.
In short, Dalziel was an older, un-PC detective, while Pascoe was his fresh-faced opposite. Yet, somehow (and entertainingly), it worked.
According to a press release, the new series will follow “seasoned detective Dalziel, and the newly qualified, by-the-book DS Pascoe”.
“Despite their clashing methods, Dalziel and Pascoe work together to form a formidable partnership that is underscored by humour, heart and humanity,” it adds.
Who will play Dalziel and Pascoe in the remake?
No casting details have been announced for the Dalziel and Pascoe remake, at the time of writing.
Lauren Jackson, VP of scripted content at All3Media International, teased that it’ll be “anchored by two bold, complex leads”.
We do know who will be involved behind the scenes, though. In addition to Charlesworth, Run Away director Isher Sahota will helm all six episodes.
The series will also be co-created by Colette Kane (Dept. Q, Vera) and Daisy Martey (Vikings: Valhalla). Gangs of London scribe Danusia Samal will work alongside new writers Chris Ryden and Jon Rowe.
Nana Hughes, ITV’s head of scripted comedy, said: “It’s a genuine privilege to bring Reginald Hill’s much-loved Dalziel and Pascoe back to the screen for a new audience.
“At the heart of this series is the enduring, unexpected chemistry between two very different detectives, and we’re excited to explore that new dynamic.”
Filming is set to begin in “spring 2026” in the north of England, but we don’t have a specific air date yet.
Why did the BBC cancel it?
Dalziel and Pascoe ran for 12 seasons and over 60 episodes between 1996 and 2007.
Low viewing figures were cited in its cancellation, coming after BBC One’s former station controller, Peter Fincham, carried out an internal “health check” on its original dramas.
However, the BBC wasn’t the first broadcaster to order an adaptation of Hill’s novels. If anything, it’s come full circle with ITV’s remake.
Dalziel and Pascoe first appeared on-screen in ITV’s A Pinch of Snuff, a three-part adaptation of Hill’s book. The detectives were played by comedians Gareth Hale and Norman Pace.
It wasn’t particularly well-received, which is why the BBC took the reins with its own series.
Read more: The best ITVX dramas to stream right now
