ITV has commissioned a new crime drama series from one of the writers of Des.
The Long Call centres on Detective Inspector Matthew Venn, who returns to his home town in North Devon with his husband Jonathan after spending 20 years away.
The four-parter is based on a novel of the same name by author Ann Cleeves who created the Shetland and Vera series.
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ITV head of drama Polly Hill revealed that Des and Baptiste screenwriter, Kelly Jones, is on board to write all four episodes in her first ever solo series.
Hill said: "I'm delighted that ITV is working with Silverprint Pictures to bring another of Ann's brilliant novels to screen.
"It's very different to Vera, but I think audiences will take to DI Matthew Venn and this compelling story in the same way.
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"Kelly has written a wonderful adaptation and this promises to be a really distinctive and original new crime series."
A synopsis of the upcoming series from ITV reads: "We first meet the reserved, but intense Matthew Venn outside the local church as his father's funeral takes place. Sadly, the day Matthew turned his back on the strict evangelical community in which he grew up, he lost his family too.
"Now he's back, not just to mourn his father at a distance, but to take charge of his first major murder. A body has been found on the beach near to Matthew's new home: a man with the tattoo of an albatross on his neck, has been stabbed to death.
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"Through Venn and his team's investigation, we are introduced to a wonderfully rich ensemble of characters, in a compelling crime story which captures the stark beauty of the North Devon coastline, and a community where murder and intrigue bubble beneath the surface."
Sounds good, doesn't it?
The Long Call will be created by Silverprint Pictures and, as yet, does not have a release date.
Silverprint Pictures' creative director Kate Bartlett added: "After almost a decade working together, we are thrilled to be continuing our creative partnership with Ann.
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"The Long Call is a rich and deeply engrossing mystery with a whole host of new Cleeves characters led by the inimitable Matthew Venn.
"Just as the novel feels like a progression of Ann's writing, this feels like the opportunity to create a unique and ambitious event crime drama with a wholly iconic character at its heart."
It's no surprise ITV is keen to get Jones back working on a new series, as Des was the broadcaster's most successful drama launch in 14 years.
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In just nine days after its release, the first episode of Des was watched a whopping 10.9 million times.
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: TV and Film, UK Entertainment