With Kathy Burke directing

ITV has commissioned a four-part adaptation of Graham Norton’s bestselling debut novel, Holding, to be directed by  Kathy Burke

Conleth Hill will take the leading role of local police officer, Sergeant PJ Collins, a gentle mountain of a man who hides from people and fills his days with comfort food and half-hearted police work. 

When the body of long-lost local legend Tommy Burke is discovered, PJ is called to solve a serious crime for the first time in his career. PJ finally has to connect with the village he has tried hard to avoid.

The  series, in the insular fictional village of Duneen, West Cork, will be shot on location in Ireland this summer.

Norton said: ‘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 added: ‘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 has been described as a ‘darkly comic tale’ and ‘funny and tender’, and former EastEnders story chief Dominic Treadwell-Collins will be adapting it for screen.

Published: 20 May 2021