ITV has ordered two new stories in The Suspicions of Mr Whicher series, starring Paddy Considine as ‘private inquiry agent’ Jack Whicher.

Inspired by the real life career of celebrated 19th century detective Jonathan ‘Jack’ Whicher, the Victorian crime drama will return for two new 120-minute films.

In ‘Beyond the Pale’, Whicher is hired by a distinguished and powerful political grandee, Sir Edward Shore, to investigate threats that have been made against his son Charles, who is recently returned from India with his young family. Sir Edward fears entanglement in a scandal with potentially devastating repercussions for his family and career. Whicher is deeply torn when, even after a murder occurs, Sir Edward is determined that Whicher should pursue his investigation without involving his former colleagues in the Metropolitan Police.  Whicher’s pursuit of justice takes him into the most dangerous corners of London’s Docklands as he unearths the darkest secrets, which involve him in a maelstrom of betrayal and passion by which he is not left unscathed.

‘‘Til Death Do Us Part’ finds Whicher taking on the tawdry bread and butter of the private inquiry agent, divorce work.  The divorce act has recently been passed and Whicher reluctantly finds himself investigating the adulterous behaviour of Jane, the unhappy wife of a wealthy country landowner Henry Coverley, the owner of a string of racehorses.  What seems a fairly straight-forward, if sordid case spins into something deeply disquieting and complex, which divides a small and claustrophobic West Country town, when one of the key witnesses fails to attend court and is found dead in highly suspicious circumstances.

ITV Director of Drama, Steve November, commented: “We’re delighted with the new Whicher scripts from Helen Edmundson. Paddy Considine is an extraordinary actor who brilliantly portrays Whicher’s complexities, depth and vulnerability.”

Filming will take place in April and May in central London, Kent, Wiltshire and Hertfordshire.

Are you looking forward to the return of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher? Let us know below…