DCI Banks | |
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Intertitle (2010–2016)
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Genre | Crime drama |
Based on | Novels by Peter Robinson |
Starring | |
Composer(s) | Sheridan Tongue |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 5 + Pilot |
No. of episodes | 32 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
Andy Harries Francis Hopkinson |
Producer(s) | Stephen Smallwoad |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Production company(s) | Left Bank Pictures |
Release | |
Original network | ITV |
Picture format | 16:9 1080i |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | 27 September 2010 | – 5 October 2016
DCI Banks is a British crime drama series produced by Left Bank Pictures for the ITV network. The series is based on Peter Robinson's Inspector Alan Banks novels and stars Stephen Tompkinson as Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. In 2013, the series won in the drama category at the regional Royal Television Society Yorkshire Programme Awards.
In January 2010, author Peter Robinson signed with Left Bank Pictures and ITV to adapt novels from the Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks series for television. Filming on a two-part pilot based on Aftermath was completed in July 2010, with scenes filmed in Leeds. DCI Banks: Aftermath was broadcast on ITV on 27 September and 4 October 2010. The two episodes drew 6.55 million viewers, twice becoming the fifth most-watched programme on the ITV network that week.
ITV commissioned six episodes — three two-part dramas adapted from three novels for the first series. Filming began in February 2011 and included locations in Otley for Friend of the Devil. Some shop names were unchanged during filming. The first episode, Playing with Fire, aired 16 September 2011, and drew an average of 4.5 million viewers. The subsequent two 2-part dramas, Friend of the Devil and Cold is the Grave, achieved similar ratings.
ITV commissioned a second series. Filming began in March 2012, and episodes began broadcasting from 10 October. For this series, the novels Dry Bones that Dream,Innocent Graves and Strange Affair were adapted. With Andrea Lowe on maternity leave, Stephen Tompkinson was joined by Caroline Catz as DI Helen Morton, a character not in the novels. Sally Haynes, head of the ITV drama commissioning, said of the second series: "DCI Banks is now established as a firm favourite within ITV's crime drama slate. We're delighted so many viewers are appreciating Robert Murphy’s adaptations and how the team at Left Bank Pictures are producing DCI Banks."