ITV has commissioned a four-part adaptation of Graham Norton's debut novel Holding, set to film in Ireland this summer.
Game of Thrones star Conleth Hill has been cast in the lead role of the project, while British comedy star Kathy Burke is set to direct from a script by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Karen Cogan.
The bestselling book is set in the fictional Co Cork town of Duneen. It centres on Sergeant PJ Collins (Hill), who is described as "a gentle mountain of a man, who hides from people and fills his days with comfort food and half-hearted police work".
He is called on to solve a serious crime for the first time in his career when the body of long-lost local legend Tommy Burke is discovered.
Northern Irish actor Hill, who recently starred in the TV series Dublin Murders, said of the project: "I'm looking forward to getting to work with Kathy, the cast and crew, Dominic and everyone at [production company] Happy Prince on bringing Graham's brilliant characters and story to the screen."
Norton commented: "I am beyond excited to see the story and characters I created being brought to the screen.
"I love how the brilliant creative team have transformed my novel into something so rich and dramatic. West Cork is ready for its close-up!"
Burke shared: "2021 is my 40th year working in the industry and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than directing Holding.
"It's a beautiful piece of writing with a great story and fantastic, full bodied characters. All this with glorious West Cork as its setting proved irresistible."
Holding is produced by ITV Studios-backed production company Happy Prince alongside Martina Niland for Port Pictures, in association with Screen Ireland.
The series will be filmed in Ireland across the summer of 2021. Details of further casting will be released closer to the start of production.
