ITV confirms return of FOUR popular dramas – but is your favourite on the list?

ITV HAS confirmed the return of FOUR popular dramas to their schedule.

The broadcaster has confirmed the fan-favourite shows will return in just a matter of weeks.

ITV

ITV

However, bosses stopped short of confirming their exact launch dates – but they’ll air between July and September.

Fans of The Tower don’t have long to wait until Gemma Whelan returns as DS Sarah Collins.

Also returning to the gripping crime series are BAFTA-nominated Tahirah Sharif as PC Lizzie Adama, Jimmy Akingbola as DC Steve Bradshaw and Emmett J Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw.

The first episode of series three opens exactly two years on from the second instalment.

Grace

ITV

Also making a comeback is John Simm for Grace‘s fourth series as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.

Returning stars include Richie Campbell as DS Glenn Branson, Zoë Tapper as Cleo Morey and Craig Parkinson as DS Norman Potting.

The first film in the new series is called Dead Man’s Time – a vicious robbery at a secluded Brighton home draws Grace and Branson into a puzzling enquiry when thousands of pounds worth of beautiful antiques are stolen from the house.

McDonald and Dodds

ITV

ITV bosses are bringing back Tala Gouveia and BAFTA winner Jason Watkins for a fourth instalment.

Similar to the format of Vera, the new series will consist of three feature-length episodes.

The first episode will open as McDonald and Dodds are tasked with investigating the discovery of a body on a morning rush hour bus.

Producers have also bagged popstars Pixie Lott and Will Young for guest appearance on the fourth series.

The Twelve

ITV

For the second series, the twelve leaves the city and heads to urban Australia.

The trial kicks off after local landowner Bernice Price is found dead at the bottom of her farm well – and two ex-lovers stand accused of her murder.

ITV teased: “Criminal barrister Brett Colby, SC, comes to Tunkwell to represent one of the accused – Patrick Harrows.

“While Meredith Nelson-Moore, SC, defends the other accused Sasha Price, but Colby and Meredith have more in common than just the trial and the pair’s relationship is put to the test both professionally and personally.”

Crime dramas on ITVX

Crime drama buffs have a wide selection of choices on ITVX - here is a selection of some of the programmes available to binge.

• Professor T: Based on a Belgian TV series of the same name, former Death in Paradise lead Ben Miller plays the title character. Professor Jasper Tempest is a criminologist with OCD who helps the police solve crimes. The cast also includes Emma Naomi, Barney White and Andy Gathergood.
• The Beast Must Die: This series follows a mother’s grief for her son, who was killed in an accident. Nicholas Blake’s novel of the same name has been adapted for the programme. Stars include Cush Jumbo, Jared Harris, Billy Howle and Geraldine James.
• Red Eye: Starring Richard Armitage, Jing Lusi and Lesley Sharp star in this six-part thriller, which mostly takes place  during an all-night flight between London and Beijing. With dead bodies piling up and a mystery to unravel, the heroes must work fast to get to the truth.
• The Twelve: This Australian drama originally aired as a miniseries in 2022, with the episodes dropping in the UK in February 2023. Four months later, the show was renewed for a second season. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill stars in the leading role of barrister Brett Colby.
• Manhunt: Martin Clunes stars in this drama based on true murder investigations. Series one focused on the death of Amélie Delagrange, which took place in 2004, while the second depicted the search for serial rapist Delroy Grant.