Tchéky Karyo’s popular detective character Julien Baptiste is about to star in his very own The Missing spin-off series, which fans are eagerly awaiting.

Baptiste is due to air on 17 February, with Karyo reprising his role as the stubborn investigator we came to know and love in The Missing, but it’s now transpired the actor very nearly turned down the part altogether.

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The Missing season one centred on a child’s disappearance in France, and filming began shortly after Karyo’s daughter was born.

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He told Radio Times the timing of these two events made him ‘anxious’ to the point he actually pulled out of filming.

“I didn’t want to do it because I didn’t want to be stuck for six months filming. I didn’t want to sign for three years. And the story was making me anxious: my daughter was just born,” he said.

Baptiste
BBC
Karyo as Baptiste

The part of Baptiste was re-cast but that actor also pulled out, causing writers Harry and Jack Williams to go into a state of panic and begin shooting without a Julien at all.

At the last minute, the show’s director persuaded Karyo to take the part back on and the rest, as they say, is history.

Baptiste
BBC
Tom Hollander in Baptiste

Karyo returns as Julien in Baptiste, which begins Sunday 17 February at 9pm on BBC One.

In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about the series.

H/t: Radio Times