Writers had their books turned into award-winning dramas
PETER may have turned down several very lucrative offers from TV bosses, but other major crime authors have seen their characters leap to the screen.
IAN RANKIN – REBUS
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first Rebus book and Ian told The Sunday Post of his plans for a summer festival to celebrate it. John Hannah and Ken Stott have both played the hard-drinking copper in television versions which divided opinion. But Ian revealed that he’s never watched them, despite having the DVDs, as he didn’t want to have the actors’ faces in his head when he was writing a new book.
ANN CLEEVES – SHETLAND AND VERA
Based in the North east of England, Ann has seen her characters become massive TV hits on two different
channels. Her books featuring Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez has become a Bafta-winning hit for the BBC with a new series of Shetland, which is the fourth, starring Douglas Henshall on the way.
And the series of books about DI Vera Stanhope has been adapted into gripping dramas on ITV. The series, shot around Newcastle and Northumberland, stars Brenda Blethyn.
VAL MCDERMID – WIRE IN THE BLOOD
Kirkcaldy-born Val McDermid is one of Scotland’s most-read crime writers with sales of over 10 million worldwide. The characters which made the leap off the page were Tony Hill and Carol Jordan. Wire In The Blood, also first published 30 years ago, ended up being brought to the screen with Robson Green as the psychologist. It was one of ITV’s biggest hits.