CHANNEL 5’s brand new detective drama officially kicked off as it rivals ITV’s Vera.
The brand new series sees Sharon D Clarke play the role of straight-talking and stern DCI Ellis.
Channel 5’s brand new detective drama is taking on Vera and Midsomer Murders[/caption]
One of its lead stars and writers has said the show is better than existing shows such as the beloved ITV series[/caption]
She’s drafted in by chiefs to help solve a complex case, arriving at a brand new police station to a mixed response.
Ellis has already been compared to ITV‘s Vera – which is bowing out after 14 series on air.
And now the show’s crew have said Ellis is even better, in a swipe at the beloved crime drama and other series.
Speaking about what sets Ellis ahead of similar shows, lead writer Sian Ejiwunmi-Lee Berre said: “A lot of big detective shows are very site-specific.
“Whether it’s Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders, or even
Inspector Morse, it’s about the place.
“This is about her. And she brings her very specific understanding of how people work to wherever she goes; her mantra is that everything is made different by love, fear, hate, or anger, and she digs into the character of a town.
“So, the changing character in each episode is the town – and obviously the people in it – but the town itself has a particular flaw.
Sharon added: “Most police dramas operate around the station where
they have their colleagues and their routines, whatever they are, but they have their community.
“For Ellis and Harper, it’s just them. And they work with the police station, but they’re always working with different people.”
She added: “I love the fact that we are always having lots of guests at
different levels.
“When you have that kind of drama where you’re not set in a particular community like a soap, you’re always seeing a different set of people come in.”
Ellis starts tonight at 8pm on Channel 5 and My5.
Vera’s Cast Over The Last 14 Years
Since its launch back in 2011 Vera has gripped ITV viewers with its crime stories – and dozens of actors have appeared in the show, including:
- Brenda Blethyn
- David Leon
- Jon Morrison
- Riley Jones
- Wunmi Mosaku
- Paul Ritter
- Cush Jumbo
- Sonya Cassidy
- Clare Calbraith
- Kingsley Ben-Adir
- Kenny Doughty
- Lisa Hammond
- Noof McEwan
- Christopher Colquhoun
- Steve Evets
- Ibinabo Jack
- Paul Kaye
- Sarah Kameela
- Rhiannon Clements
