Inspector Rebus to return for second BBC series

The BBC's adaptation of Sir Ian Rankin's best-selling Rebus novels is being renewed for a second series, the broadcaster has announced.

Richard Rankin's portrayal of the Edinburgh detective first aired in spring last year in a six-part series.

Its first episode picked up 6.3m viewers across all platforms and it recently won three RTS Scotland awards.

The six-part series is being produced by Eleventh Hour Films and is written for the screen by Gregory Burke.

The fictional detective's exploits have been told across 25 novels, the first of which was published in 1987.

An estimated 35m Rebus novels have been sold and creator Sir Ian Rankin was knighted in June 2023.

The character was previously played by actors John Hannah and Ken Stott, in a series of ITV films between 2000 and 2007.

The new adaptation reimagines the character as a younger officer and is set in present-day Edinburgh.

The BBC said series two of the series will see John Rebus "uncover the links between the violent world of the Edinburgh drug trade and the city's law and finance sectors.

Sir Ian, who is the show's executive producer, said: "Season one of Rebus ended on a cliffhanger. Only screenwriter Gregory Burke knows what happens next so I'm hugely excited that season two will soon be with us."

Gregory Burke first came to fame as a playwright. His debut play Gagarin Way was first performed at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre before transferring to London's West End.

The National Theatre of Scotland launched with his play Black Watch in 2006. The production went on to win four Olivier awards and tour around the world.

He also wrote the films '71 and Entebbe.

He said: "I'm delighted to be given the chance by the BBC and Eleventh Hour Films to bring Rebus back to the nation's TV screens once more.

"Ian Rankin's character and body of work are the perfect materials with which to explore contemporary Scottish society and the turbulent world that surrounds it."

Louise Thornton, head of commissioning at BBC Scotland, said they were "blown away" with the audience response to the first series and bringing it back was a priority.

She said: "This commission is part of our recently-announced strategy to bring more high impact scripted content from Scotland.

"We're confident audiences will enjoy this next series as much as they did the first."

BBC Scotland announced in March that it was cancelling long-running drama River City, a move which led to public protests from the cast and questions from MSPs.

The corporation said total investment in BBC drama from Scotland over the next three years is expected to rise to over £95m in total.

As well as the new dramas, the BBC said that popular show Granite Harbour would return for a third series as well as Shetland coming back for its 10th series and Vigil for a third.