New Inspector Lynley adaptation with Sanditon favourite gets release date confirmed by the BBC

by

Get ready to add a new crime series to your watchlist! We now know the official airdate and streaming release for the show ‘Lynley’ on BBC One and iPlayer.

A new four-part series, reimagining the novels by Elizabeth George, will begin on BBC One at 8:30pm on Monday, January 5th.

The series first launched on BritBox in North America earlier this year, and now it’s coming to BBC iPlayer as a complete season, perfect for watching all at once.

The new series stars Leo Suter, known from Sanditon, and Sofia Barclay, from Ted Lasso, as the detective partners DI Tommy Lynley and DS Barbara Havers. Joining them is Daniel Mays (Magpie Murders) as DCI Brian Nies, a sharp and observant detective who doesn’t particularly like Lynley—a dislike fueled both by class differences and the realization that Lynley is more intelligent than he is.

Niamh Walsh, known for her role in The English Game, plays Helen Clyde. Helen is a real estate agent and a former classmate of Lynley’s from Oxford University. They begin a romantic relationship after unexpectedly meeting while working on a case together.

Michael Workeye, known for his role in My Lady Jane, will play tech specialist Tony Bekele, and Joshua Sher, from Vera, will star as forensic scientist Simon St. James.

Detective Tommy Lynley is exceptionally skilled, but his privileged background makes him something of an outsider within the police department. He works alongside Sergeant Barbara Havers, a strong-willed and independent officer who comes from a working-class family.

Despite their obvious differences, Lynley and Havers surprisingly make a powerful team, united by their shared commitment to finding justice.

This isn’t the first time these books have been turned into a TV series. The Inspector Lynley Mysteries first appeared on the BBC between 2001 and 2008.

The original series starred Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small, but this new installment of the Lynley mysteries is being produced by Playground, the company behind popular shows like All Creatures Great and Small and Wolf Hall.

Steve Thompson, the writer behind popular shows like Doctor Who, Vienna Blood, Jericho, and Sherlock, penned the new series. When the BBC obtained the rights, Thompson expressed his excitement, saying it was a “privilege and a thrill” to bring Elizabeth George’s beloved and cleverly plotted books to the screen.

Author Elizabeth George expressed her excitement about the return of her characters, Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers, to television. She’s particularly pleased that the BBC, Britbox, and Playground are involved in bringing the story to life, calling it a wonderful experience to see her creations on screen.

Want to see this content?

We can’t display this content because of a security measure called reCAPTCHA. To see it, please log out of Contentpass.

Read our guide to the best Christmas TV for 2025.

Lynley will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer on Monday 5th January at 8:30pm.

Don’t miss out! Add Lynley to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download it today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing, freelancing, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2025-12-12 14:37