Nicola Walker and Jamie Sives signal that filming on Annika S2 has begun. Photo: PBS

From the time I was first introduced to the greatness 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, Last Tango in Halifax and The Split once again I’m convinced she could simply read the phone book and I’d be there front and center.

Just beyond the horizon this Fall (October 16 to be exact) is another Nicola Walker bit of drama greatness headed to PBS. Annika, based on the Radio 4 drama Annika Stranded, is a six-part series that 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.

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…with or without a phone book.

With filming underway, Series 2 will see the return of Nicola Walker as DI Annika Strandhed, Jamie Sives as DS Michael McAndrews, Katie Leung as DC Blair Ferguson and Ukweli Roach as DS Tyrone Clarke. Silvie Furneaux also reclaims her role as Annika Strandhed’s daughter, Morgan.

Nicola Walker said: “We are all looking forward to fighting crime on sea and land with the MHU for a second series and there are secrets closer to home for Annika that will have to be faced. It’s going to be a bumpy ride!”

With Series 1 currently available for binge watching on PBS Passport, Annika comes ashore for a broadcast audience beginning Sunday, October 16 on PBS stations nationwide as part of Masterpiece.