ITV has announced that there will be a season five of their UK crime drama DCI Banks.

The series premiered in 2010 and is based on the Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks novels by Peter Robinson.

The new season will see Stephen Tompkinson return as DCI Banks for a series of darker crimes that include the “dark world of cyber shaming and self-harm.” The six new episodes will also see the return of Andrew Lowe as Annie Cabbot and Caroline Catz as Helen Morton.

Season five will begin filming in 2016.

Read the official announcement below:

Popular crime drama DCI Banks, starring Stephen Tompkinson, to return for grittiest series yet.

Contemporary detective drama DCI Banks will return for a new six-part series starring Stephen Tompkinson, Andrea Lowe and Caroline Catz, ITV confirmed today.

Stephen Tompkinson (Trollied, Truckers, Wild At Heart) reprises his role as DCI Alan Banks with Andrea Lowe (Love Life, Monroe) playing DS Annie Cabbot and Caroline Catz (Doc Martin) as DI Helen Morton.

Produced by award-winning indie Left Bank Pictures, the new season sees the Yorkshire detective tested in his toughest investigation yet, comprising of 6 x 60’ original episodes inspired by the books from acclaimed novelist Peter Robinson. The drama will not only feature self-contained stories told over two episodes, but, in an explosive serial crime story that weaves through the whole series, DCI Banks will be forced to question all that he holds dear, as he pits his detective skills against criminals who will stop at nothing to escape the law.

When Banks confronts a powerful adversary who has been dubbed by his superiors as too big to bring down, Banks’ dogged pursuit of justice sets in motion a chain of events that rips at the very fabric of his life, both professional and personal. Banks needs his team around him but Helen’s rule-following approach threatens to undermine him and her desire for promotion could cause a divisive rift.  Spurred on by Helen’s ambition, Annie pursues her own results-driven, gut instinct style of policing, and Ken faces a dilemma when he is entrusted with a secret about Annie’s marriage.

The first story finds Banks drawn into the dark world of cyber shaming and self-harm when a school teacher and pupil are found dead. In the second story, Annie discovers a disturbing secret as the team investigate a kidnap within Leeds’ Chinese community, and in the final two episodes, Banks’ team question how far he will go in pursuit of justice when he enters a dangerous cat-and-mouse game to pin down a man who is seemingly outside the reach of the law.

With a reputation for delivering hard-hitting crime stories, DCI Banks will begin filming in the stunning county of Yorkshire in early 2016.

The series will be produced by Anne-Louise Russell (Casualty as producer, DCI Banks, Crossing Lines as script executive). Radford Neville (DCI Banks, The Game, The Borrowers) who produced series four of the drama returns as co-executive producer alongside Left Bank Pictures Chief Executive, Andy Harries. Peter Robinson continues his involvement in the creative process, ensuring the stories are true to his characters and the spirit of DCI Banks.

DCI Banks will be written by Chris Murray (Lewis, New Tricks, Midsomer Murders), Nicholas Hicks-Beach (Lewis, DCI Banks, Law & Order: UK) and Paul Logue (DCI Banks, Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise). Craig Pickles returns to direct the first story.

The series has been commissioned for ITV by Director of Drama, Steve November and Head of Drama Series, Jane Hudson.

“DCI Banks has become a firm favourite with the ITV drama audience and this series will be the grittiest yet,” said Jane.  “We’ll see the team embark on an investigation that will truly change things forever.”

Executive Producer Andy Harries added: “I’m delighted we are producing a fifth series of DCI Banks, one of ITV’s best loved dramas.  The stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire countryside is deeply contrasted with the uncompromising storylines the team are dealing with.”

Commented Stephen Tompkinson: “I couldn’t be more thrilled that DCI Banks is returning.  Series five is taking us to its most dramatic place so far and I can’t wait to be reunited with the cast and crew to make our most memorable series to date.”

What do you think? Do you watch DCI Banks? Will you watch the new season when it premieres?