Cooper and Fry is a new detective drama series on Channel 5
Channel 5’s latest telly offering is certainly one not to be overlooked. The fresh detective drama, titled Cooper & Fry, is based on the much-loved novels penned by Stephen Booth.
Although set in the Peak District, the filming took place in Ireland. The new series of Cooper & Fry will bring to life four of Booth’s early novels, including Black Dog, Dying to Sin, Blind To the Bones, and Dancing with the Virgins.
The drama boasts a star-studded cast list featuring Coronation Street and Downton Abbey’s Robert James-Collier and Doctor Who and Hollyoaks’ Mandip Gill, taking on the roles of mismatched detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry.
Cooper & Fry is based on the novels by Stephen Booth and is coming to Channel 5(Image: Channel 5)
Readers of the books will recognise that they follow DC Ben Cooper, a likeable local, who finds himself paired with the reserved newcomer DC Diane Fry to probe into a series of puzzling deaths.
Despite Fry’s doubts about local folklore, they’ll have to navigate not only the convoluted paths of the cases at hand, but also the murky beliefs that still hold influence in the hills. As Cooper and Fry dig up old rituals and beliefs, they must depend on each other not just to deliver justice, but to stay alive, reports the Manchester Evening News.
But who else stars alongside Robert and Mandip, where was Cooper & Fry filmed, and how and when can fans of the Stephen Booth books watch the adaptation? Here’s everything you need to know.
When does Cooper and Fry start?
The new detective drama gets underway on Tuesday, November 18. Viewers can switch over to Channel 5 from 8pm to watch the series unfold.
Cooper & Fry cast list
DC Ben Cooper and DC Diane Fry played Robert James-Collier and Mandip Gill (Image: Channel 5)
Cooper & Fry features Robert James-Collier as DC Ben Cooper, Mandip Gill as DC Diane Fry, Charlotte Bradley as Isobel Cooper, Lorcan Cranitch as DI Paul Hitchens, Niamh McCann as Tracey Garnett, Barry O’Connor as DS Todd Eland and Clara Simpson as Dr Juliana Taylor.
The cast of Cooper & Fry also includes Emer Heatley as Danielle Entwhistle, Grace Collender as Cara Doyle, Eamon Rohan as Raymond Carlisle, Conor Hackett as Alex Barcroft, Sergii Dzialyk as Nikolai Dudzik, Paul Tylak as Roy Palfreyman.
Where was Cooper & Fry filmed?
Downton Abbey star Robert James-Collier plays DC Ben Cooper in the new Channel 5 drama(Image: Channel 5)
This detective drama unfolds within the “mystery-shrouded Peak District,” located in Derbyshire, particularly in the fictional town of Edendale. The programme follows Mandip’s character Diane Fry as she relocates from Leeds to the rural countryside to partner with Ben Cooper.
Discussing the significance of the location, Robert, who portrays Cooper, explained: “As beautiful as the Peak District is, it’s also foreboding and there are a lot of dark elements in the woods. If you’re in a bleak corner of your life, which Diane is, that feeling is projected onto the landscape and fired back at you. The landscape can be intimidating, too, especially if you’re there alone and realise how a fall or a quick turn of the weather could kill you.”
Nevertheless, whilst the story is situated in the Peak District, production actually took place in Ireland.
Mandip Gill as DC Diane Fry in Channel 5’s Cooper & Fry(Image: Channel 5)
How many episodes of Cooper & Fry are there?
There are four episodes of Cooper & Fry in total, but each episode is more akin to a feature film, airing for just over two hours from 8pm to 10:05pm on Channel 5.
Cooper & Fry starts on Channel 5 at 8pm on Tuesday, November 18.
