Line of Duty star's new drama defended by fans after being branded 'snoozefest'
Ridley returned to screens tonight for a second series on ITV, having first aired in 2022.
The British police drama follows Alex Ridley (Dunbar), a retired detective, and his former protégée, DI Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh), with series 1 involving a complex murder case.
Ridley, who retired early due to a nervous breakdown after the death of his wife and daughter in a house fire, is brought back to the force in a consultancy role after 18 months away, having spent the rest of his spare time performing in and co-owning a jazz club.
As for series 2, it picks up with Farman at the helm of the investigations, joining forces with her former boss once more to get to the bottom of some complex crimes.
After its launch in the Sunday 9pm slot, viewers took to X to express their thoughts, with some tempted to switch off after calling the episode 'truly awful'.
@HinmanMark described the acting as 'clichéd' and the dialogue as 'stilted', adding: 'it's like someone decided it won't fit into the time so it has to be sped up.'
@DarenMulvihill replied: 'I was looking forward to its return but find myself agreeing with you, terrible acting all round'.
@HobsonDhobson22 admitted viewing was 'hard going', while @cannylad23 accused ITV's crime dramas of all being 'the same'.
Comparing Ridley to Irish actor Dunbar's most successful programme, @BHACG blasted: 'Ain't no Line of Duty is it. A right snooze fest.'
Others called the intermittent jazz performances from Dunbar 'annoying', as @KimBarrett8 claimed the music 'spoiled' the flow.
However, it wasn't all negative, as plenty of users left glowing reviews, hailing it as 'perfect' Sunday night television.
'Sunday night, a cup of tea and a new series of #Ridley. Perfect!', tweeted @mrskmob1.
@DavidJosephLaw2 further complimented the drama, saying it's of the same standard as fan favourites Vera and Karen Pirie, while @NickDentsBrain said they will 'watch anything [Dunbar] is in'.
And while the performer's singing hit a bum note with some, for others, it was the highlight of the night.
'Adrian Dunbar has a fantastic voice!', said @TellyChat1.
As well as Dunbar, 67, and Waugh, 42, Ridley's cast comprises Coronation Street's Terence Maynard, Call the Midwife actress Georgie Glen, Citizen Khan's Bhavna Limbachia, and George Bukhari of Years and Years.
Other series 2 stars include Toby Hadoke, Julie Graham, Aidan McArdle, Suzanne Packer, Tareq Al-Jeddal, and Christine Bottomley.
A synopsis published ahead of the second instalment said the team of cops would tackle 'new slate of mysteries, investigating crimes that will take them from the atmospheric British moors to the pulsating beats of an illegal rave'.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
As for Ridley himself, he, too, faces 'formidable challenges, working tirelessly to solve the most intricate and perplexing cases'.
While the fictional town where Ridley is set is called Framley, it was actually shot in Mossley, a town on the outskirts of Greater Manchester.
'We chose Mossley town as our location for Framley, as it fits our aesthetic well,' said producer Juliet Charlsworth. 'It's a proud industrial town nestled in a valley surrounded by the Pennines.'
Other filming locations include Ashton-under-Lyne for a jewellery store heist, Bolton's famous Le Mans Crescent for the police station and jazz bar, and Watergrove Reservoir, Rochdale, for Ridley's house.
While Ridley is a fictional drama in a fictitious town, Dunbar has revealed that a friend's tragedy is ultimately at the heart of the programme.
Speaking to Radio Times, the Ted Hastings actor shared: 'I remembered there was someone I knew, whose daughter had died tragically in a car crash, and he never quite got over it.
'He never got over it to the extent that he didn't quite believe that she was dead, and that somehow he would turn a corner and she'd be there. It's a kind of strange reluctance of the mind to accept something.
'So I thought, when a young girl shows up at the start [of the first episode], why don't we try and let Ridley immediately project onto her? Because I know this person did this, he would meet a young woman who was so close to the attributes of his daughter, and it was almost like she had shown up.'
'These things can be disturbing,' he stated. 'So I thought, let's use that element. I didn't want to leave his grief behind.' More Trending
He further said that it's 'important for audiences that there is an element of being able to move on from grief, because we have to, as humans.'
However, he wants it to be portrayed in a 'gradual way'.
'And if we get another series, we'll be able to move him on further.'
All episodes of Ridley are now available to stream on ITVX.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
View More »
MORE: Doctor Who star's show dropped from UK streaming service confirms ITV launch
MORE: Maya Jama 'offered millions to stay on Love Island as Netflix tries to poach her'
MORE: Comedian reveals he 'got cameraman sacked for filming up female colleague's skirt'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Lorraine Kelly 'makes decision on ITV future' amid channel's brutal jobs bloodbath
Lorraine Kelly has presented her eponymous show on ITV since 2010, and celebrated her 40th year in television last year with a special episode of the morning programme Lorraine Kelly will leave ITV when her contract ends next year, a source has claimed. The broadcaster, 65, was furious when ITV earlier this year announced her programme will only run for 30 weeks of the year in 2026, cut from the full 52. Her show will be cut in half and will run from 9.30am until 10am from January too, changes about which Lorraine expressed her frustration in May. But now it appears the Scottish presenter has decided to leave the channel when her contract ends next year. A consultation period, which will determine who will be the victims of ITV's brutal financial cuts, is currently underway and, though her role appears safe, Lorraine is understood to be ready to call it a day after hosting her eponymous show for 15 years. The bloodbath may, though, affect Lorraine's current popular stand-ins Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh, as the hosts may see their appearances fronting the show slashed. A source told Mail Online today: "Lorraine sees it as the end. She's got a year left on her contract which she will honour, but beyond that there are no plans for her to stay. She will be leaving. "Of course, she will be fine, she has loads of money. But some of the people who work for her have done so for many years and have put up with her demands for a long, long time. Yet they will struggle to ever get another job in the television industry." Lorraine, originally from Glasgow, celebrated her 40th year in television last year with a special episode of the morning programme, which follows Good Morning Britain in ITV's line-up. Production staff on these shows, in addition to further ITV daytime programming, are being impacted hugely by the changes, it is believed. And one employee called the situation "horrendous," claiming "the little people" at the west London-based broadcaster were suffering. They told Mail Online: "All the big names are staying while the little people get the boot. It is horrendous. You'd think if you wanted to save a big lump of cash you could get rid of some of the presenters. There are loads of them!" But among those presenters retaining their jobs is Richard Madeley, itr is understood. The veteran broadcaster will continue to front Good Morning Britain for a further six months at least after penning a new, short-term contract recently. Madeley, originally from Romford, east London, frequently presents Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reid, whose position is also said to be safe.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
ITV production staff hit out at 'rubbish' household names escaping jobs amid bloodbath
Richard Madeley is among names remaining in roles on ITV programmes, like Good Morning Britain, despite a huge cull this summer - a bloodbath which will see more than 200 off-screen roles cut Backroom staff at ITV are reportedly "furious" to see "the little people get the boot" in favour of "the big names" amid the broadcaster's bloodbath. ITV is making huge changes to its daytime programming, and is axing more than 200 off-screen roles as a result. Good Morning Britain is merging with ITV News, but all of their top presenters – who include Susanna Reid, Richard Madeley, Julie Etchingham and Tom Bradby – will remain in post for now at least, it is said. Madeley, 69, penned a short-term deal to remain in his position for six more months at least. It is understood Kate Garraway is safe – as is presenter Adil Ray, who looked set to be axed. Instead, insiders say his shifts will be cut. Yet, ITV was brutal to axe Noel Edmonds' big TV comeback after just one series despite its huge launch. And the daytime cuts primarily affect tireless production staff, who work off screen. The consultation period, which will determine who will be the victims of these brutal financial cuts, has been underway for some months and employees are said to be angry with the situation. One insider told Mail Online: "All the big names are staying while the little people get the boot. It is horrendous. You'd think if you wanted to save a big lump of cash you could get rid of some of the presenters. There are loads of them. But no, instead they've all been told they are safe." For now, everyone on Good Morning Britain and ITV News will continue their separate shows. This Morning's presenters will also stay in situ. In response to this, he insider added: "The cuts will fall to those who earn pennies in comparison. When this was all announced, we thought some of the stars would go – and rightfully so. Some of them are rubbish. Rather than there being three or four backstage workers doing a certain job, there will be one – but there will still be loads of presenters." ITV has always said it has to slash costs. Some onscreen journalists are also facing the axe in a bid to balance the books, but it is thought none of the mainstay hosts are affected. One presenter told Mail Online: "It's awful to see, awful. These people work so hard and they've still lost their jobs. And where are they going to go?... The industry is getting smaller and smaller for production staff." Loose Women and Lorraine have also been decimated by the cuts, with presenters on the former facing the prospect of only being aired for 30 weeks a year. Lorraine, too, is going from 52 weeks a year to 30, as well as being cut back from an hour to just half an hour in transmission time.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Three more Strictly Come Dancing contestants announced on The One Show
The trio were announced as the latest recruits for the upcoming season live on BBC One's The One Show on Monday. Speaking from the studio after her reveal, former Love Island winner Dyer said: 'It's such a fun magical show – to be asked to do it is such an honour. 'I just can't wait to be able to wear (the costumes) – it's going to be so much fun.' Actress Kingston, who interrupted her holiday in Italy to speak to hosts Alex Scott and Roman Kemp, joked: 'I was super excited but now I'm terrified.' She was best known for her role as Dr Elizabeth Corday in US medical drama ER. Before that she won over British fans for her performance in ITV miniseries The Fortunes And Misfortunes Of Moll Flanders, which earned her a Bafta nomination for best actress. Former Chelsea footballer Hasselbaink said: 'I'm a father of only girls and Strictly is a part of our home life – I like the show. 'Let's have a go.' He added: 'It's totally out of my comfort zone. 'Playing football in front of 60,000 or 70,000 people is easy but dancing with a partner who knows it 10 times, 100 times, better than you is crazy.' Hasselbaink also teased the idea that he might be bringing a few of his former footballing friends along to watch live. 'I'm in contact with Robbie (Fowler), with Carlo Cudicini, so who knows,' he said. They join Olympic sprinter and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who was the first contestant confirmed for the 2025 line-up earlier in the day. Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro on the rebooted Gladiators, previously competed in last year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special and described his decision to return as 'so nice I just had to do it twice'. In July, the BBC announced that two 'incredible' new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon, would be joining the show, which starts this autumn. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are back to present with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas returning as judges. Strictly will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.
