The star of The Walking Dead returns to British television for a new 6-part thriller.

Andrew Lincoln has achieved global success battling zombies as Rick Grimes but his television roots lie back in Blighty.

The star first found fame in the influential 90s drama This Life, before being in the initial cast of Teachers.

Now, Lincoln has been announced as the lead in the new 6-part ITV and ITVX drama series Cold Water. The cast also includes Ewan Bremner (Our Flag Means Death), Indira Varma (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Eve Myles (Hijack)

The show comes from playwright David Ireland and director Lee Haven Jones (Doctor Who).

Here’s the premise for Cold Water:

Andrew Lincoln plays John, a repressed man who is shocked to find himself in middle age, secretly raging at his life as a stay-at-home dad.

When his failure to intervene in a violent confrontation in a playground brings his identity crisis to a head, John ups and moves his family to the rural idyll of Coldwater, as far away from London as possible.

Upon arrival, John is quickly befriended by next-door neighbour Tommy (Bremner), a charming, confident man, devoted husband to the local vicar Rebecca (Myles). He is a man of faith, a pillar of the community and self-appointed leader of the village’s all-male book group. 

John is both impressed and slightly fascinated by Tommy. His wife Fiona (Varma) despises him. As a successful former chef hoping to launch a new venture in Coldwater, Fiona sees the move as an opportunity to leave the past behind them. To not only re-build their lives as a family but re-ignite the long-lost spark in their fading marriage. When her husband’s relationship with their enigmatic new neighbour becomes increasingly intense, Fiona’s suspicions are aroused. She is unconvinced Tommy is all he seems to be.

But John remains blissfully unaware that Tommy is harbouring horrifying secrets, and it’s only after a series of unsettling incidents start to occur that John begins to wonder who the real Tommy actually is.

And when John’s long-repressed rage comes to a head with disastrous results, he soon finds himself unexpectedly indebted to his new friend.

This is the story of a normal man, in a normal marriage, who finds himself in a far from normal situation. A man who discovers a newfound sense of his own power, right at the moment he falls under the influence of someone incredibly dangerous.

Writer, Creator & Exec Producer David Ireland says:

“Cold Water started with a question I was asking myself. Where do I want to live – the countryside or the city? Such an innocent beginning, but from it came this dark, funny, twisted thriller. I was delighted when Sister loved the script and thrilled when ITV decided to commission it.  And I’m amazed we’ve managed to attract such a peerless cast, led by the formidable Andrew Lincoln. I hope viewers will be find it intoxicating.”

Cold Water comes from executive producers Chris Fry (Landscapers), Alice Tyler (The Baby), Lydia Hampson (Fleabag) and Jane Featherstone (Chernobyl) for SISTER. David Ireland and Andrew Lincoln also executive produce, with Brian Coffey as producer.

Filming starts later in 2024, with further details and cast to be announced. We’ll keep you posted.