Robson Green's new BBC crime drama is an October must-watch – see first look

If you are patiently awaiting the final season of Grantchester and need your next crime drama fix, you are in luck.

Robson Green stars in the upcoming North East–set detective series, The Northumbria Mysteries, which arrives on the BBC in just two weeks.

The eight-part drama follows an unlikely crime-solving pair: jack-of-all-trades Joe Ruby and Oxford-educated DI Rose O'Connell (played by Liz White).

© BBC / Lonesome Pine Productions / Alex Telfer

When it comes to crime dramas, Robson Green is a safe pair of hands. From ITV's long-running detective series, Grantchester, to the chilling serial killer drama, Wire in the Blood, and the cat-and-mouse thriller, The Game, Robson never fails to keep viewers hooked. 

Keep reading to find out all we know about The Northumbria Mysteries ahead of its release.

What is The Northumbria Mysteries about? 

Robson leads the cast as Joe Ruby, whose life has been "shaped by mistakes, regrets and missed opportunities," while Liz White (Life on Mars, Unforgotten) plays Oxford-educated DI Rose O'Connell, a "rarefied intellectual, a deep thinker with a brilliant mind and an ice-cool disposition".

© Joe Maher/WireImage

The synopsis continues: "In a classic odd-couple pairing, Joe and Rose combine their talents as they frustrate, confound and ultimately surprise one another while unravelling a series of compelling crime mysteries."

The series comes from Newcastle-based Lonesome Pine Productions, the company behind The Feud, The Inheritance and The Fortune.

Taking to Instagram, Robson posted a first look at the series, giving a glimpse at himself and Liz as Joe and Rose. "So proud to be part of this New Series set against the stunning, dramatic and spiritual backdrop of Northumberland," he penned in the caption. "And an absolute joy and privilege to be working alongside the amazing @lizwhite2021 and the gorgeous @trogram as well as an outstanding production team from @lonesomepinetv. More to follow."

© Getty Images

Who else stars in The Northumbria Mysteries?

Robson and Liz are joined by a host of familiar faces in the upcoming series, including Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Kevin Whately (Lewis), Gurjeet Singh (Ackley Bridge) and Chris Gascoyne (Coronation Street).

The Northumbria Mysteries airs on BBC One at 2pm on Friday 23 October 2026. The series will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer the same day.