Ridley is a British police procedural drama created and written by Paul Matthew Thompson, a screenwriter on the police drama Vera, and Jonathan Fisher. The series is co-produced by Adrian Dunbar, who also stars as the title character.
The first of four feature-length mysteries aired on ITV on 28 August 2022.[1][2] Filming took place on location, mainly in rural areas in the north of England in Lancashire, the Yorkshire Dales and on the Pennine moors, with some scenes set in Bolton.[3][4] A second series was commissioned in 2023[5][6] and began airing in the United States starting Sunday, 15 September 2024.[7][8]
Premise
Alex Ridley (Adrian Dunbar) is a former detective inspector who is brought back in as a consultant some eighteen months after an early retirement, due to a nervous breakdown from having to come to terms with the loss of his wife and daughter in a house fire. He spends some of his retirement time as a pianist and singer in a jazz club of which he is a co-owner. He assists former colleague Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh), newly promoted to detective inspector.[9]
Cast
Main
Adrian Dunbar as Alex Ridley, a retired detective inspector, now serving as a police consultant
Bronagh Waugh as DI Carol Farman, team leader and Ridley's former protege[10]
Terence Maynard as DCI Paul Goodwin, Farman's boss
Georgie Glen as Dr. Wendy Newstone, police pathologist and chief forensics officer
George Bukhari as DC Darren Lakhan, a junior detective on Farman's team
Julie Graham as Annie Marling, owner of the jazz club and a close friend of Ridley
Aidan McArdle as Michael Flannery, a convicted criminal who murdered Ridley's wife and daughter
Jacquetta May as Kate Ridley, Ridley's wife, who died in the house fire (in flashbacks)
Kitty Watson as Ella Ridley, Ridley's daughter, who also died in the house fire (in flashbacks)
Tareq Al-Jeddal as Jack Farman, Carol and Geri's teenaged son
Episodes
Series 1 (2022)
No. overall
No. in series
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original release date
UK viewers (millions)
1
1
"The Peaceful Garden"
Bryn Higgins
Jonathan Fisher and Paul Matthew Thompson
August 28, 2022 (2022-08-28)
N/A
Tasked with solving a complex crime, Ridley investigates the murder of a sheep farmer, and the connections with the disappearance of a young child many years previously, and a convicted sex offender.[2][11]
Ridley is asked to help with an investigation when the body of a young woman is discovered buried on the moors.
3
3
"Swansong"
Paul Gay
Julia Gilbert
September 11, 2022 (2022-09-11)
N/A
Ridley agrees to help find the brother of a jazz singer who went missing 40 years ago, but the murder of a woman appears to be connected to the case.[12]
4
4
"The Numbered Days"
Paul Gay
Jonathan Fisher and Paul Matthew Thompson
September 18, 2022 (2022-09-18)
N/A
Ridley investigates when a man falls to his death from a balcony.[13]
