ITV Unveils First Look at New Six-Part Crime Thriller Winter Starring Richard Armitage and Annabel Scholey

ITV has offered viewers their first glimpse of Winter, a new six-part police thriller led by Richard Armitage and Annabel Scholey that is due to arrive on screens later this year.

The newly released image shows the two stars looking intensely focused inside an office as they examine paperwork together, offering an early taste of the partnership at the heart of the drama.

Richard Armitage plays an unconventional forensic pathologist

Armitage, known for Red Eye, takes the lead as Dr Ethan Winter, a brilliant but unconventional forensic pathologist whose intelligence and willingness to break the rules make him a valuable asset in complex murder investigations.

Set in Bristol, the series describes Winter as one of the most gifted pathologists of his generation. His exceptional analytical abilities and powers of deduction prove an ideal match for DI Lauren Bell, played by The Split actress Annabel Scholey.

Bell is every bit as determined as Winter when it comes to solving difficult cases, and together they develop into a formidable investigative team.

Winter’s ability to understand victims and uncover details others might overlook becomes an important resource for Bell and the detectives working alongside her.

However, his professional brilliance conceals a deeply personal obsession.

Winter is secretly investigating a murder of his own

Beneath the individual investigations running through the series is an unresolved tragedy from Winter’s past.

Someone close to him was murdered, and the crime remains unsolved. Still haunted by what happened, Winter has been conducting his own unofficial investigation in the hope of identifying the killer and finally bringing them to justice.

That mystery will continue throughout all six episodes, while each installment also introduces its own self-contained crime story.

The first-look photograph released by ITV places Armitage and Scholey together in what appears to be an office, both wearing serious expressions as they look over documents.

Joining them in the cast are Jamie Kenna, Carlotta Banat, Josh Barrow, Adwoa Akoto, Jay Taylor, Rishi Rian, Deirdre Mullins, Ellis Elijah and Evie Coles.

Winter is based on French crime series Balthazar

The new ITV drama is adapted from the French series Balthazar, which starred Tomer Sisley and ran for five seasons before ending in 2023.

The original series, which can also be watched on ITVX, developed an enthusiastic following, with viewers particularly praising its mix of crime, humor and character chemistry.

One fan described themselves as “totally addicted” to the series, praising both Balthazar’s combination of humor and poignancy and his dynamic with the police captain.

Another viewer highlighted the show’s “intriguing crimes” and chemistry between its cast, revealing they had binged the first two seasons.

A third praised the drama for delivering distinctive mysteries and compelling characters.

With Armitage and Scholey now taking the central roles in ITV’s British interpretation, Winter will bring that formula to Bristol while adding an ongoing personal mystery surrounding its unconventional protagonist.

Winter is set to air on ITV later this year.