Sometimes a TV series grips you to such an extent that it’s hard to look away – and detective drama River is one that does exactly that. While Unforgotten might be the crime series we all know and love Nicola Walker for, River is the quietly brilliant one that first aired on BBC One in 2015 and is now available to stream on ITVX. And when we say you'll want to watch the exceptionally engaging series in one go, we mean it!
The series introduces us to Detective Inspector John River (Stellan Skarsgård) and his colleague, Detective Sergeant Jackie "Stevie" Stevenson (Nicola Walker). And here’s the gripping bit: Stevie has been murdered and John sees Jackie everywhere, even though she’s gone. And she’s not the only ghostly figure shadowing him: as the investigation into Stevie's murder evolves, so do the cracks in John's reality - and his ability to solve crimes starts to unravel in unexpected ways.
Ready to dive in? Before you do, here’s everything you need to know about River, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.
What is River about?
Written by The Split's Abi Morgan, the six-part detective drama first aired on the BBC in 2015. DI John River (Stellan Skarsgård) is a brilliant, isolated detective with a secret – he’s being haunted by the victims of the murders he’s investigating. Most prominent of those is DS Jackie “Stevie” Stevenson, played by Nicola Walker, who is John's recently murdered partner and friend. As he works to solve the mystery of her murder, she speaks to him and offers him insight and unknown truths about her begin to emerge. All the while, John has other investigations going on, each with their own ghostly apparitions.
The official synopsis reads: "As the investigation into Stevie's murder begins to reveal her deepest secrets, River has to question everything he thought he knew about his one true friend. Their relationship might have survived her death but can it survive the truth of who she really was in life?"
Who’s in the cast of River?
The cast of River includes:
- Stellan Skarsgård as DI John River
- Nicola Walker as DS Jackie "Stevie" Stevenson
- Adeel Akhtar as DS Ira King
- Lesley Manville as DCI Chrissie Read
- Georgina Rich as Rosa Fallows
- Eddie Marsan as Thomas Neill Cream
- Turlough Convery as Frankie Stevenson
- Sorcha Cusack as Bridie Stevenson
- Steve Nicolson as Jimmy Stevenson
- Owen Teale as PSupt Marcus McDonald
- Michael Maloney as Tom Read
- Jim Norton as Michael Bennigan
- Peter Bankolé as Haider Jamal Abdi
- Adjoa Andoh as Sunday Akentola
- Shannon Tarbet as Erin Fielding
- Josef Altin as Christopher Riley
- Anamaria Marinca as Ema
- Andrei Zayats as Ukrainian Lad
- Lydia Leonard as Marianne King
- Pippa Bennett-Warner as Tia Edwards
- Franz Drameh as Bruno
- Stefan Kalipha as Omari Tadros
Is there a trailer for River?
Yes, there is a trailer for River, which you can watch below:
Is River any good?
Yes, we certainly think so – the acclaimed British drama is a thrilling combination of police procedural and ghost story. Critics and viewers have called it “the very best there is”, "exceptionally engaging" and particularly praised Stellen Skarsgård’s performance as a troubled detective. As well as being unsettling, the show also tender and witty moments that explore the mindsets of criminals and studying why some people are moved to murder.
How can I watch River?
Good news - you can watch it right now! The full six-part series is available to stream on ITVX.
What else can I watch Nicola Walker in now?
Crime drama enthusiasts will love ITV’s Unforgotten, in which Nicola played beloved character DCI Cassie Stuart in series 1 to 4 – and you can stream all episodes on ITVX. We’d also highly recommend watching The Split, which follows a family of divorce lawyers, the Defoes who are forced to confront their past. All three series are yours to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
