'A great cast and a compelling story': Rebus comes to BBC1

Created by author Ian Rankin, the character first appeared in his novel Knots and Crosses in 1987, and quickly won the hearts of readers all over the world.

Now we’re about to add Richard Rankin to that list of actors, although he’s playing a version of Rebus we haven’t seen before. Rather than being the elder statesman of Edinburgh’s police force, he’s a young whippersnapper, a detective sergeant who is about to be drawn into a violent criminal conflict that involves his brother Michael, a former soldier.

Rebus himself isn’t in a good place either. The six-part series sees him reeling from an encounter with local villain Ger Cafferty, unsatisfied with his job, embroiled in a toxic affair and more or less supplanted in his daughter’s life by his ex-wife’s wealthy new husband. It seems that he and Chris Carson from The Responder would have lots to talk about if they ever met…

“I’m thrilled that Rebus is coming to the BBC,” says Ian, who’s given this new take on his character his wholehearted approval. “A great cast and a compelling story – I really can’t wait for viewers to see it.”

Richard (who is no relation to the writer) adds: “It’s been an honour taking on the role of Ian Rankin’s renowned John Rebus, a character enjoyed by so many, in such a fresh and original adaptation.”

If it proves to be a hit, then there’s plenty of scope for more cases. In the author’s books, Rebus has aged naturally, so Richard could be playing him for years to come.

“In my head he’s 65,” Ian told the audience at the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival a few years back. “He should be 70, but I didn’t write about him for five years, so I’ve knocked those off.

“He’s changed, but is determined to stay a detective. Someone like him would have reapplied as a civilian to work on cold cases, so that’s what I wrote. People ask how you keep the series fresh, but each book is different, a standalone, with a character who’s changed with the world around him.”

Another Rebus book, Midnight & Blue, is heading our way in October and who knows, there could be more, despite the fact that Ian describes himself as “a terrible writer. I never do any research, I forget what I’ve done in the past. I just make it up as a I go along, and sometimes I get lucky.”

He’s being somewhat harsh on himself. Besides which, it’s his readers who are lucky – after all, they’re always desperate for a new story to come along. And after watching the series, you can bet plenty of new fans will be lapping them up too.