“A perfect reboot”: Lynley is the “ingenious” BBC detective series set to rival Sherlock

Inspector Lynley fans, listen up – the BBC is bringing the famous detective back to our screens, along with his trusty sidekick Barbara Havers! Lynley is the ingenious new BBC One series that’s set to rival Sherlock, and we’re calling it, it’s the perfect reboot.

Just like its long-running noughties predecessor, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, the reboot is based on the best-selling novels by Elizabeth George and will star Leo Suter and Sofia Barclay as the perfectly mismatched crime-solving duo. While the pair seemingly have absolutely nothing in common, there is one thing they agree on: that justice must be served.

With the series set to arrive on BBC One soon, here’s everything you need to know about what’s in store…

What is Lynley about?

As we mentioned, the four-part series is a new adaptation of Elizabeth George's bestselling Inspector Lynley novels. If you’re new to the series, this will be the first time you meet Tommy Lynley, the brilliant police detective who’s also an outsider in the force – simply by virtue of his aristocratic upbringing.

He’s paired with Barbara Havers, a sergeant with a maverick attitude and a working-class background. The pair couldn’t be more different and yet, against all odds, the mismatched duo of Lynley and Havers become quite the formidable team.

Over the course of the series, we’ll also meet DCI Brian Nies (Daniel Mays), the astute, suspicious Senior Detective at Three Counties Major Incident Team, whose aversion to Lynley is partly born of his own insecurities about class and partly because he knows he’s no longer the smartest person in the room.

Plus, there's a hint of love in the air. Helen Clyde (Niamh Walsh) is an estate agent and Lynley’s former Oxford classmate whose romance with Lynley is sparked when their paths fatefully cross on a case. Oh, we do enjoy a good romance!

The series is created and written by Steve Thompson, known for working on the BAFTA-winning series Sherlock - and it's safe to say that with DI Tommy Lynley and DS Barbara Havers back in town, Sherlock has a new rival.

Author Elizabeth George has said it’s a thrill to see Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers come to television again. “Watching my characters brought to life on television is a real celebration,” she says.

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: “There is so much to enjoy in this new and exciting adaptation, both for fans of Elizabeth George’s gripping novels and of the BBC’s iconic The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, and for viewers yet to encounter the magnetic attraction of Lynley.”

Who's starring in Lynley?

The cast of Lynley includes:

• Leo Suter (Vikings: Valhalla) as DI Tommy Lynley
• Sofia Barclay (Ted Lasso) as DS Barbara Havers
• Daniel Mays (Magpie Murders) as DCI Brian Niles
• Niamh Walsh (The English Game) as Helen Clyde
• Michael Workeye (My Lady Jane) as Tony Bekele
• Joshua Sher (Vera) as Simon St. James

Are the Inspector Lynley books any good?

Yes – and that goes for all 21 of them! It’s not often a book series gets made into a TV series not once but twice, after all. The books are full of mystery, intrigue and brilliantly compelling characters. Funnily enough, while the novels are set in England and are very “typically British”, author Elizabeth George is in fact American born and raised. You'd honestly never know!

How can I watch Lynley?

Lynley is set to premiere on BritBox in the US and Canada and on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK. The BBC hasn't shared an official release date just yet, but we're expecting the four 90-minute episodes to be released at some point very soon. Watch this space for news as we have it!