Nicola Walker as Annika Strandhed. Photo: UKTV / Alibi

From the time I was first introduced to the acting talents of Nicola 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 in our collective rearview mirror, another Nicola Walker bit of drama greatness is headed to PBS in the not-too-distant future, Annika. Based on the Radio 4 drama Annika Stranded, the six-part series follows DI Annika Strandhed (Walker), the speedboat-driving head of Glasgow’s newly-formed Marine Homicide Unit, 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 Sives (Guilt), Katie Leung (Harry Potter, Roadkill),  Ukweli Roach (Grantchester) and Kate Dickie (The Cry). Writer Nick Walker, who also wrote the radio drama, seemed beside himself on Twitter as filming began back in late 2020.

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

— Nick Walker (@nwalk7) December 14, 2020

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.

Described by an enthusiastic reviewer from The Guardian saying, “The dialogue is so droll and the performances so charming I’m in for what fisherfolk call the long haul, Annika allows Walker to let loose a warm sense of humor.” 

Annika comes ashore for an early PBS Passport streaming release of all six episodes beginning April 17 with a broadcast scheduled later this year on PBS stations nationwide as part of Masterpiece.