Waking the Dead (2000)

Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston, Holly Aird, Claire Goose and Wil Johnson star in Waking The Dead, a gripping, contemporary drama series of two-part films transmitting on Monday and Tuesday nights as part of the Crime Doubles season.

Waking The Dead strikes at the very heart of modern day murder investigations, providing a unique insight into the world of "Cold Case" examinations. The first British TV series to deal with these "Cold Cases", by combining the discipline of experts in the field of psychological profiling, forensic science and police detection, Waking The Dead's originality takes investigative drama into the 21st century.

Det Supt Boyd (Trevor Eve) plays the driven and dynamic leader of the crack squad of investigators which include psychological profiler Dr Grace Foley (Sue Johnston); forensic scientist Dr Frankie Wharton (Holly Aird); DC Mel Silver (Claire Goose) and Wil Johnson as DS Spencer Jordan, Boyd's second-in-command.

The series boasts an impressive list of guest stars including Tessa Peake-Jones, Lynda Bellingham, Anthon Valentine, Harriet Walter, Annette Crosbie, Angela Griffin and Clive Russell.

"This is a crime thriller based on an original format with credible and totally convincing stories," says Trevor Eve. "It is also bang up to date, if not ahead of its time."

In the first two-part film "Burn Out", Angela Griffin plays Marina Coleman, a young woman obsessed with the death of he father, Perry (Clive Russell). Determined to prove his death was not an accident, Marina suddenly shows up at Boyd's (Trevor Eve) office with some research she has conducted on the case. Boyd is intrigued and reluctantly agrees to investigate.

Frankie (Holly Aird) runs forensic tests on Marina's father's car and proves that he was still alive after the crash. It would appear Marina was right. A suicide note, allegedly left by Marina's father, is later discovered and it looks like the case is solved. However, further tests by Frankie on the remains of the body reveal a third option which the team hadn't previously considered They now face a race against time to protect Marina.

"A hit with viewers last September, Waking The Dead returr with tough new storylines in a hard-hitting series," says Vial Young, the BBC's Controller of Continuing Drama Series.

Waking The Dead is created by Barbara Machin, the producer is joy Spink and executive producer is Alexei De Keyser.