The Wheel of Time and Young Sherlock favourite confirms new role in “gritty, visceral and darkly funny” take on historical icon

by

Dónal Finn, known for his role in The Wheel of Time, will be the main actor in a new audio drama telling the story of the famous outlaw Dick Turpin.

Big Finish Productions will release a new audio series called Turpin this summer. It’s described as a raw, intense, and darkly humorous reimagining of the classic legend.

Finn, known for his role in the Prime Video series Young Sherlock, will play the lead character – a man who leaves his ordinary job as a butcher to become a dangerous outlaw.

Award-winning screenwriters Mat Braddy and Darren Rapier not only wrote the audio drama, but also directed it, along with Ken Bentley.

The voice cast includes Jemima Rooper (known for Geek Girl and Atlantis) as Betty, Turpin’s clever wife, and Greg Wise (Sense and Sensibility, The Buccaneers) as Captain Tom King, a sophisticated thief, alongside Finn.

Harry Myers plays Mason, a determined lawman, and Richard Goulding provides the voice for James Smith, who used to be a law-abiding friend of Turpin.

The new audio drama follows Richard Turpin, a restless butcher eager to get rich in the rapidly changing United Kingdom.

After initially turning to poaching for quick money, he’s forced to flee and joins the ruthless Gregory Gang. As his fellow gang members are executed, Turpin manages to escape capture and becomes the nation’s most notorious fugitive.

Producer Lizzie Worsdell hinted at a fresh and surprising take on the story of Dick Turpin, promising something completely new.

Darren Rapier, the writer and director, explained that he’d long been fascinated by the true story of Richard Turpin, based on historical records. He wanted to move beyond the popular, romanticized image of Turpin as a dashing highwayman. When he learned that Mat shared this same vision, they began discussing a collaboration to bring a more accurate story to life.

He explained that the real story is closer to the violent world of the Kray twins than the heroic legend of Robin Hood, and they wanted to make that clear. Using audio allowed them to tell this big, complex story quickly and with a sense of energy. They see it as an action-packed drama set in the past.

Further cast and story details will be revealed at a later date.

The first book, Essex Pistols, will be released in July 2026, and the second, Damned & Delivered, will follow in August. You can pre-order the entire series today.

Authors

Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss writes about the newest trends in television, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and has also contributed to major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-03-13 20:34