A new crime drama from the mind of Fife writer Val McDermid will be set in and filmed in Dundee starring Line of Duty’s Martin Compston.
Suspense-filled thriller Traces will see three female forensic scientists delve into an unsolved murder case.
It is being touted as Scotland’s answer to hit US series How to Get Away with Murder.
Kirkcaldy-born McDermid, who came up with the original idea for the series, is one of Scotland’s most popular ‘Tartan Noir’ crime writers.
She has sold more than 10 million books worldwide, including A Place of Execution, Fever of the Bone, and The Mermaids Singing.
Amazing cast, wonderful scripts from Amelia Bullmore from my original idea, and set in Dundee! https://t.co/ADeLzdzFcs
— Val McDermid (@valmcdermid) May 1, 2019
Traces will be aired on pay television channel Alibi and will be UKTV’s first original production.
The script for the six-part series, which will be partly filmed in Dundee, was written by Amelia Bullmore.
As well as Scot Martin Compston, who plays DS Steve Arnott in the hugely-popular BBC crime drama Line of Duty, the show will also star Molly Windsor (Three Girls, Cheat), Laura Fraser (The Missing, Breaking Bad) and Jennifer Spence (You Me Her, Travelers).
Delighted to a part of this brilliant cast. The scripts are top notch excited to get stuck in https://t.co/UgqgFKw7Lt
— martin compston (@martin_compston) May 1, 2019
It is being produced by RED Production Company — who are behind popular shows Safe, Butterfly, and Happy Valley — for UKTV and BBC Studios Distribution.
Nicola Shindler, founder and executive producer of RED Production Company, said: “I am really excited to be working with UKTV bringing Amelia’s compelling and original scripts to life.
“From the brilliant mind of Val McDermid this is a mystery I want the Alibi audience to find totally addictive.”
The series explores the world of SIFA, the Scottish Institute of Forensic Science and Anatomy.
The main character, 23-year-old Emma Windsor, returns to Scotland to take up a new position as a lab assistant at SIFA.
She signs up to a MOOC – Massive Open Online Course – which teaches the principles of forensic science.
But she soon discovers that the fictitious case study has a strikingly similar and shocking link to her past.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The Courier newsletter
As Emma’s sleuthing takes her into darker corners and unpicks more and more secrets, she suddenly feels she can trust no-one.
The two other female characters help see Emma’s faith in the science rewarded and ultimately bring a killer to justice.
In real-life, Dundee is home to one of the UK’s leading forensic science education centres at Dundee University.
UKTV drama commissioner Philippa Collie Cousins said: “When the idea came over from RED it genuinely made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
“The fantastic writing talent in Amelia Bullmore coupled with Nicola Shindler and the team at RED will make Alibi’s first ever drama commission something really quite special.
“With strong female characters this is Happy Valley meets Silent Witness, a dark and exciting show that I can’t wait for us to get cracking on.”
The show will air later this year.
