Jones returns as D.C. Rachel Bailey alongside Lesley Sharp (Starlings) for Series 3 of the crime drama at 9pm on Wednesday on ITV.

Series 3 will feature “one of [the show’s] most disturbing crime storylines to date”, involving a serial killer.

The former Coronation Street actress revealed: “It gets really dark in episodes beautifully written by Sally Wainwright. Crime is fascinating. You only have to look at the television news, every week there’s something being reported. It’s human behaviour and it’s a fascination.”

The new series also sees Spooks star Nicola Walker join the cast as Helen Bartlett.

Jones commented: “I’ve been a fan of Nicola for a while so it was exciting to hear she was joining the series. I’d met her at the BAFTAs last year and she’s a fantastic actress. You can sit back in scenes and just watch her be brilliant, which is always a thrill for another actor to experience.”

Later in the series, Episode 4 sees Danny Miller arrive as “fast-tracked” Detective Sergeant Rob Waddington.

Jones teased: “It puts the cat among the pigeons because you’ve got two very strong female officers that now have to bow down to a really young man who has very little beat experience. Now suddenly he’s telling them what to do and calling the shots.”

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