British television has long been enamored with its detectives, from Morse’s Oxford wanderings to the fictional chaos of Midsomer. Now, the BBC is ushering in a new era with Lynley, a fresh adaptation of Elizabeth George’s beloved novels, set to premiere on BBC One at 8:30pm on January 5, 2026. The reboot, which already debuted on BritBox in North America last September, is making its much-anticipated arrival for UK audiences, with all four feature-length episodes—each running over an hour—available for streaming on BBC iPlayer from launch night. But what makes this latest crime drama stand out, and where did its atmospheric countryside scenes really come from?
At first glance, Lynley appears to be a quintessentially British affair. The series is set in the picturesque landscapes of East Anglia—Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire, with the fictional police department based in Norwich. The opening episode plunges viewers into a murder mystery on the Norfolk coast, where DI Tommy Lynley, an Oxbridge-educated aristocrat, is paired with DS Barbara Havers, whose working-class roots and sharp tongue provide a lively foil to Lynley’s blue-blooded reserve. According to BBC, “Tommy Lynley is a brilliant police detective but an outsider in the force—simply by virtue of his aristocratic upbringing. He is paired with Barbara Havers, a sergeant with a maverick attitude and a working-class background.”
Fans of the original Inspector Lynley Mysteries (which ran from 2001 to 2008) will recognize the dynamic, but this reboot brings the characters into a new era. Leo Suter (known for Vikings: Valhalla) steps into the role of Lynley, while Sofia Barclay (from Ted Lasso) plays Havers. The supporting cast includes Daniel Mays as DCI Brian Nies, Niamh Walsh as Helen Clyde, and a host of others, including Michael Workeye, Rosalyn Wright, Joshua Sher, and Nadia Parkes. The chemistry between Suter and Barclay has already drawn praise, with The Irish Times noting, “The leads at least have great chemistry. Lynley is a low-key snob who drives a shabby-chic Jensen Interceptor and is baffled when Havers suggests that a Cambridge undergraduate may be responsible for the murder of a local bigwig.”
But here’s the twist: while the drama is steeped in the moody ambiance of rural England, much of it was actually filmed far from the misty fens of East Anglia. Production began in August 2024, with the bulk of the shooting taking place in Ireland—specifically Dublin, the Wicklow Mountains, and Mallow Castle in County Cork. Some scenes were indeed shot in England, including the Norfolk Broads and the Thames Estuary, but the lush landscapes and rolling hills that dominate the series are mostly Irish in origin. As Radio Times reported, “Despite being set in Cambridgeshire and East Anglia, the series was actually predominantly filmed in Ireland in 2024. Locations used include areas in and around Dublin, as well as in the Wicklow Mountains and at Mallow Castle.”
Lead actor Leo Suter shared his experience of filming abroad: “That’s the magic of movies. It’s set in East Anglia, and there are some little moments where we pop up in Cambridge and London, but we actually filmed it in Dublin and the environs, beyond the pale, in the Wicklow Mountains, which are stunning and beautiful. So, I really enjoyed that, and Ireland was such a wonderful place to film.” His co-star, Sofia Barclay, echoed the sentiment: “But what is great is that the gorgeousness of the countryside is really shown, and I think Ed Bazalgette, our director, really did an amazing job of showcasing the British countryside element and highlighting that in the field. It’s just really fun because there are amazing scenes with Leo running in ditches and getting wet.”
This blending of British setting and Irish scenery gives Lynley a slightly uncanny quality. The Irish Times wryly observed, “It is hard to think of a more thoroughly British detective show than this team-up between a posho detective and his working-class foil… Oddly, the creepiness of coastal Norfolk adds to the ambience. Odd because Lynley is, of course, shot largely around Wicklow—not a part of the world generally associated with the spooky and unnerving.” Still, the illusion is convincing, and the countryside’s beauty is on full display.
In fact, the attention to detail extended even to the wardrobe. Suter recounted a moment of serendipity while in Dublin: “There are definitely some perks for me as an actor getting to play Inspector Lynley. Getting to drive the Jensen Interceptor was most certainly a highlight. And the process of finding the right tweed jacket for The Inspector was very special. I actually found that coat for myself in a small shop in Dublin. Our director loved the coat so much that he got the costume department to go buy the rest of their stock and that became Inspector Lynley’s jacket!”
The show’s narrative, meanwhile, doesn’t shy away from the classic British class divide. Lynley’s aristocratic background is a running theme, often clashing with Havers’ working-class sensibilities. The witty repartee between the two characters is a highlight, as seen when Havers jokes about her parents: “My mother irons and my father steals.” The duo’s relationship is, at its core, about bridging differences—“his brain and her spirit, his knowledge and her instincts,” as BBC puts it.
For author Elizabeth George, seeing her creations come to life on screen again is a thrill. “I’m thrilled to see Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers come to television again. Watching my characters brought to life on television is a real celebration,” she said. Writer and executive producer Steve Thompson added, “It’s a privilege and a thrill to have the opportunity to adapt these wonderful books for television. Elizabeth George’s iconic characters are greatly loved, and her gripping stories are smart and ingenious.”
The new series also marks a shift from the original novels and previous adaptation, which followed Lynley as a London Metropolitan Police detective solving crimes across the UK. Now, the focus is squarely on East Anglia, with cases taking the pair from grand manors on estuary islands to tight-knit communities in the Norfolk Broads. As the series unfolds, audiences can expect a blend of compelling mysteries, sharp social commentary, and the kind of atmospheric visuals that make British crime dramas so enduringly popular.
With its striking locations, engaging leads, and faithful adaptation of George’s novels, Lynley is poised to become a staple of winter television. Whether you’re drawn in by the class clashes, the countryside vistas, or the promise of a good old-fashioned whodunnit, there’s plenty to keep you glued to the screen on those long January nights.
