Nicola Walker as Annika Strandhed. Photo: UKTV / Alibi

From the time I was first introduced to the acting talents of Walker in her role as DI Susan Taylor in Touching Evil (co-starring with Grantchester‘s Robson Green), followed by her time as Ruth Evershed in Spooks (MI5), guest roles in Luther, Being Human and Inside Men, then her more recent efforts in Scott & Bailey and Last Tango in Halifax, once again I’m convinced she could simply read the phone book and I’d be there front and center.

With series 4 of Unforgotten still on the near horizon, there is news of another Nicola Walker bit of drama greatness headed our way in the not-too-distant future, Annika. Based on the Radio 4 drama Annika Stranded, the six-part series follows Marine Homicide Unit DI Annika Strandhed (Walker) as her specialist unit is tasked with investigating a number of mysterious deaths and unexplained murders off the coast of Scotland.

Walker, who also voiced Annika in the Radio 4 drama, will be joined by a star-studded cast, including Jamie Lives (Guilt), Katie Leung (The Nest),  Ukweli Roach (Blindspot) and Kate Dickie (The Cry). Writer Nick Walker, who also wrote the radio drama, seemed beside himself back in December on Twitter as filming began.

Been a long wait, but someone shouted ‘Action’ today and it’s super exciting. https://t.co/0Ss5RDjJ4u

— Nick Walker (@nwalk7) December 14, 2020

While Nicola Walker fans can look forward to her sharing the small screen with Sanjeev Bhaskar and his rucksack for series 4 of Unforgotten later this year on ITV and PBS, keep an eye out for Annika.

With DI Strandhed frequently breaking the fourth wall to include the audience in her investigations into the aforementioned mysterious deaths and unexplained murders off the coast of Scotland, jokingly, it reads like a cross between Miranda and Shetland but even if it was, with Nicola Walker in it, I’m there. Hopefully, you will be too when it arrives ashore.