Dalziel and Pascoe reboot 'to be gender-flipped' with female detectives
ITV's reboot of Dalziel and Pascoe is set to feature two female stars in the roles of the titular detectives, who were played by Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan in the original BBC series.
The Dalziel and Pascoe reboot is set to star female leads.
It was revealed last month that ITV are working on a "contemporary reimagining" of the detective series – which starred Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan as the titular Yorkshire sleuths when it originally aired on the BBC from 1996 to 2007 – and it is said that the lead characters will now be played by two female stars in a gender-flipped version of the drama.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "This will be a huge shock for fans of Dalziel and Pascoe – with the two coppers being played by women.
"While it was never in doubt that the programme would undergo a recast, many of the old-school drama fans won't be expecting to see two women in these legendary roles.
"It will certainly raise questions about if the new reboot will discard the previous iteration altogether or if some bizarre explanation will be offered up on-screen.
"It will no doubt rattle long-term fans of the show who might boycott the programme as a result.
"Switching the gender of traditional characters has sometimes proved controversial in recent TV productions but the writers are keeping their fingers crossed that this gamble will pay off."
The original Dalziel and Pascoe series – based on Reginald Hill's novels of the same name – centred on gruff, old-school detective Andy Dalziel (Clarke) and newly-qualified Peter Pascoe (Buchanan) as they teamed up to solve complex and gritty cases in the fictional Yorkshire town of Wetherton.
In a statement announcing the reboot, ITV comedy head Nana Hughes said: "It’s a genuine privilege to bring Reginald Hill’s much-loved Dalziel and Pascoe back to the screen for a new audience.
"At the heart of this series is the enduring, unexpected chemistry between two very different detectives, and we’re excited to explore that new dynamic."
The new series of Dalziel and Pascoe is being co-created by Colette Kane - who has worked on shows like Vera - and Vikings: Valhalla’s Daisy Martey, while The Effects of Lying and Missing You’s Isher Sahota is to serve as director.
Other writers for the programme include Chris Ryden, Jon Rowe and Danusia Samal.
