ONE of the stars of the hit TV show Outlander is set to head up a new detective series based on one of Val McDermid's novels.
Lauren Lyle, best known for playing Marsali MacKimmie Fraser in the Starz drama alongside Sam Heughan, will play the famous character DS Karen Pirie in an adaptation of McDermid's The Distant Echo.
The actress will play the young and fearless Scottish investigator in the ITV drama series being produced for ITV by the makers of Line Of Duty and Bodyguard.
The show, based on Scottish crime writer McDermid’s first Karen Pirie novel, will also star Emer Kenny, who has adapted the book.
READ MORE: Val McDermid has perfect answer to 'absurd' Sky News question about independence
Kenny will play DS Pirie’s friend, River Wilde, while Chris Jenks will play Jason “The Mint” Murray and Zach Wyatt will play DS Phil Parhatka.
The show, called Karen Pirie, will see the detective tasked with reopening a historic murder investigation that has been the subject of a provocative true crime podcast in the first episode.
Teenager Rosie Duff was found brutally murdered in the Scottish university town of St Andrews in 1996 and suspicion fell on the three drunken students who were discovered at the scene of the crime, claiming to have found her body.
With a lack of forensic evidence, no charges were brought and the police investigation floundered.
READ MORE: The Union as we know it is over, international media told at press event
However, 25 years later, someone appears to be willing to risk everything to keep the secrets surrounding the case hidden and DS Pirie will investigate whether the three men know more than they previously revealed.
Lyle (shown above left in Outlander) said: “I am completely overjoyed to be bringing the formidable force that is DS Karen Pirie to life through Emer Kenny’s slick adaptation.
“The world Emer has created using the backbone of Val McDermid’s much-loved books is electrifying and hooked me immediately.
“I couldn’t ask for a more creative, supportive and energetic team to be joining. I’m so thankful to Val, Emer, World Productions and ITV for welcoming me wholeheartedly on board.”
McDermid said: “It’s always exciting to see a project like Karen Pirie leave the page and head for the screen.
“We’ve been fortunate to secure a very talented and enthusiastic cast to bring The Distant Echo to life, and shooting in Scotland is definitely added eye-candy! Audiences are in for a treat.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel