Bank’s TV Aftermath

I have been a long standing reader of Peter Robinson’s award winning detective series featuring Yorkshire Detective Alan Banks. Shots are delighted to see that ITV have commissioned a TV series which airs next week with ‘Aftermath’ –

Produced by Left Bank Pictures and starring Stephen Tompkinson as DCI Alan Banks, the two x 60 minute episodes will go into production in Yorkshire at the end of April 2010.
Andy Harries and Francis Hopkinson with executive produce DCI Banks: Aftermath with James Hawes (Enid, The 39 Steps, Merlin) directing.

Written in 2002 and considered Peter’s breakthrough novel in the UK, Aftermath tells the story of an ordinary house in an ordinary street, which is about to become infamous. When two young police constables are sent to the house following a report of a domestic disturbance, they stumble upon a truly horrific scene. The wife, Lucy Payne lies on the verge of death from a head-wound and her husband Terry crouches in the cellar, surrounded by a scene which will shock to the core and make a truly lasting impression on their lives and careers.

Consequently, the identity of a serial killer has finally been revealed. But his capture is only the beginning of a shocking investigation that will test DCI Alan Banks to the absolute limit. Working alongside Banks (Stephen Tompkinson) for the first time is ambitious and pretty, DS Annie Cabbot, who is a hard-working addition to his team.

Commissioned by ITV’s Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes, DCI Banks: Aftermath is Peter’s 12th book in the series featuring fiction’s top cop. It will be adapted for ITV1 by Robert Murphy. In fact, Peter’s 20th book in the series, published by Hodder and Stoughton, is due for release later this year.
“DCI Banks: Aftermath is a classy, contemporary thriller and we’re delighted to have commissioned a two-part pilot from Left Bank Pictures”. said Sally. “Banks is brooding and melancholic with more than his fair share of baggage. Stephen is a really versatile actor and it’s great to see him in a darker role.”

“The Inspector Banks Mysteries are incredibly popular with crime thriller readers across the globe,” added Executive Producer, Francis Hopkinson. “It’s very important we do justice to Peter’s reputation for writing and creating absorbing characters and intriguing plotline. As we go into production, we’re determined DCI Banks: Aftermath will be produced to a very high quality.”

Read More here

The first episode of the two-part drama based on Peter Robinson’s novel Aftermath is due to air on ITV in the UK on September 27 at 9:00 pm and an interview with Stephen Tompkinson [who plays Inspector Alan Banks] is available here

Photo (c) 2007 Ali Karim "Peter Robinson with Stephen King" with thanks to Kerry Hood of Hodder and Stoughton Publishing