An Impossible Way to Die: Channel 5's gripping new thriller follows the 'race against time to unmask a killer'
This is "not your stereotypical damaged and tormented TV detective"
An Impossible Way to Die may sound like a Bond film, but it’s actually the latest thriller from Channel 5. And this one looks particularly good.
Anyone who has ever read TVGuide.co.uk before will know we are partial to a Channel 5 mini-series. Even the really silly ones. Number One Fan, we’re talking to you. However, this new series really does look like one of the best.
The character-driven, unpredictable crime drama “explores themes of identity, protection, power and corruption”.
And with Sharon Rooney and Emmett J Scanlan leading the cast, we’re already 100% committed to this. Read on to find out everything we know about the upcoming series.
What is the plot of An Impossible Way to Die on Channel 5?
An Impossible Way to Die follows a detective whose quiet local policing life is upended when she’s thrust into a high-pressure investigation.
DS Katie Salter is happily solving everyday crimes until “fate drags her into an impossible murder mystery”. The baffling case? Four people sat around a table seemingly set for a dinner party – except they are all dead. The only clue is a scorpion crawling out of one of the victim’s mouths…
She is partnered with DI Niall Conway, lead investigator on the case. At first, the two detectives appear fundamentally incompatible. Yet, as the investigation deepens and the pressure intensifies, Conway begins to recognise the value of Salter’s empathy, optimism, and instinctive understanding of people….
The synopsis tells us: “The case grows increasingly impossible, as secrets are unearthed and conspiracies emerge… Lives are put at risk as the detectives race against time to connect seemingly disparate cases and unmask a killer before it’s too late.”
How many episodes is it?
The upcoming series is a “gripping six-part thriller”. Each episode will be roughly an hour long, including ad breaks.
This is quite rare for a Channel 5 thriller, which are normally four episodes and air over subsequent nights.
Who’s in the cast of An Impossible Way to Die on Channel 5?
Sharon Rooney and Emmett J. Scanlan lead the cast of Channel 5’s new thriller An Impossible Way to Die. Now that is a pretty awesome combo if you ask us.
My Mad Fat Diary star Sharon portrays DS Katie Salter. She is “not your stereotypical damaged and tormented TV detective”. Katie is smart, diligent and committed to her family.
A Woman of Substance actor Emmett J. Scanlan plays lead investigator DI Niall Conway. At first, his all-consuming dedication to the job clashes with Salter’s measured, grounded approach.
Further confirmed cast includes Coldwater’s Lois Chimimba, Down Cemetery Road’s Jonny Lavelle, and This Country’s Ashley McGuire.
Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, 5 said: “An Impossible Way to Die is exactly the kind of distinctive, compelling drama we want to bring to 5 audiences. Casting Sharon Rooney as a detective was the genesis of this thriller, and she brings something fresh and compelling to DS Katie Salter. With its brilliant premise, bold take on the detective genre, fantastic cast and Clapperboard’s flair for character-driven drama, we’re hugely excited to see the series come to life.”
Mike Benson, Managing Director, Clapperboard Studios added: “Sharon and Emmett are two of the finest performers out there. The scripts are really quite special – gripping, witty and insidious. We can’t wait to introduce the world to DS Salter who avoids all the tropes we’ve seen in television detectives down the years.”
When’s the start date?
An Impossible Way to Die is due to air on Channel 5 in 2027.
We don’t yet know if the series will land as a boxset or air week by week.
Read more: John Hannah plays ‘burned-out detective’ who seeks a ‘simpler life’ in Benidorm is Murder on Channel 5
