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Robson Green is set to take on a new role in the BBC’s upcoming crime drama after playing Geordie Keating on Grantchester for over a decade

alling all Robson Green fans! The BBC has announced that a new detective drama, The Northumbria Mysteries, is in the works – and it’s the perfect antidote for those facing a Grantchester-shaped hole in their viewing schedule after the eleventh series airs.

While Robson won over the nation with his portrayal of DI Geordie Keating, he won’t be away from solving mysteries for long. The actor is set to star as Joe Ruby, a jack-of-all-trades who unravels a series of twisty crimes in the Northumberland-set show.

Robson Green© BBC/Rivers Meet Productions/Signpost Entertainment/Zoila Brozas
The actor will be stepping into another crime drama

According to the BBC, the series forms part of a wider initiative to strengthen production and skills in the North East of England, a region where Robson himself hails from.

The show comes from Newcastle-based Lonesome Pine Productions, the company behind The Feud, The Inheritance and Do Not Disturb. Keep reading to find out more about Robson’s new crime drama…

What is The Northumbria Mysteries about?

Showcasing the Northumberland landscape and coastline, the series centres on an “unlikely crime-solving duo” – much like Grantchester.

The BBC synopsis reads: “Robson Green will star as Joe Ruby: a jack-of-all-trades whose life has been shaped by mistakes, regrets and missed opportunities, alongside Oxford-educated DI Rose O’Connell (casting to be announced), a rarefied intellectual, a deep thinker with a brilliant mind and an ice-cool disposition.

ROBSON GREEN as Geordie Keating
Robson will play Joe in The Northumbria Mysteries

“In a classic odd-couple pairing, Joe and Rose combine their talents as they frustrate, confound and ultimately surprise one another while unravelling a series of compelling crime mysteries.”

Who stars in The Northumbria Mysteries?

Robson Green will play Joe Ruby and is the only name attached to the series so far, so stay tuned to find out who will play his crime-solving partner, Rose.

What have the creatives said about The Northumbria Mysteries?

In a statement, Lesley Douglas, Executive Producer and co-founder of Lonesome Pine Productions, said: “We could not be happier to have Robson Green lead the cast and bring Joe Ruby to life, within the magnificent backdrop of Northumberland. Working with the BBC to realise these characters has been a labour of love”.

The Northumbria Mysteries marks the perfect next step for Robson, who will give his final performance as Geordie in the eleventh series of Grantchester in 2027.

man in suit and vicar in office© ITV
Robson Green stars opposite Rishi Nair in Grantchester

Speaking at a press conference attended by HELLO! ahead of the finale, Robson said: “Daisy [Coulam] wrote a beautiful line in the script, and I keep reminding myself of it – that with Grantchester, nothing really ends, not really.

“The River Cam will keep flowing, the swans will keep swimming, and if you’re in Cambridge and you look hard enough, you might find two old men at the bar – an ex-copper and a vicar – having a warm pint and putting the world to rights.”

Filming for The Northumbria Mysteries will begin in spring before airing on BBC One and iPlayer.