3 days ago
Huge BBC detective series AXED despite cliffhanger ending in bitter blow to fans
The BBC has quietly axed a fan-favourite crime drama which starred a huge actress after just two series on air in a blow to fans.
Originally launching in 2021, the show had built up a loyal audience and bagged an impressive 83% Rotten Tomatoes score.
However, Annika won't return for a third series, days after it arrived in a primetime slot on BBC One last week.
A spokesperson for UKTV said: 'We are incredibly proud of the success of Annika on U&Alibi, but there are no current plans for a third series.'
Starring Nicola Walker, the show's first home was U&Alibi and was originally based on BBC Radio 4 drama Annika Stranded.
The 55 year old played the role of Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed, the head of Scotland's Homicide Unit.
Other stars who appeared in the drama include Jamie Sives, Katie Leung, Ukweli Roach, Paul McGann, Silvie Furneaux and Sven Henriksen.
Despite Nicola's on screen success she keeps relatively quiet about her family life and marriage to fellow actor Barnaby Kay.
It is not known where the couple met, but they have a son named Harry, who was born in 2006.
The cancellation comes after it was revealed Nicola's other show Forgotten, which airs on ITV, is reportedly facing the axe.
Its writer Chris Lang has admitted he wishes to step down after the upcoming series in a blow to fans.
The crime drama follows detectives as they delve into cold cases however the latest season received criticism from viewers who blasted ITV for ' ruining' it with 'woke and nonsensical' storylines.
And now it seems the future of the show has been called into question with Chris' involvement uncertain.
Speaking in an interview with the Royal Television Society he said: 'I'll probably hand on the baton after this series. I'll still be involved, but I've written 42 episodes and don't want to repeat myself,' The Sun reported.
The multi-award winning screenwriter added: 'I wouldn't write it if I didn't have something to say about the state of the nation.
'Because Unforgotten has an inherent and robust structure, that allows me space to hold up a mirror to British society — it's a Trojan horse show.'
Nicola made her onscreen debut in Richard Curtis's Four Weddings and a Funeral as the folk singer who is performing at a ceremony while Simon Callow's Gareth fakes his own dramatic death in the pews.
Since then, she has thrilled TV audiences with roles in top BBC and ITV dramas, with her first big gig in spy drama Spooks.
Nicola played eccentric analyst Ruth Evershed in the show, who had to fake her own death after being suspected of murdering a prison worker.
