Ellis: release date, cast, plot, trailer, first looks and everything you need to know
Ellis is a Channel 5 and Acorn TV crime drama starring Sharon D Clarke as a detective tackling seemingly 'unsolvable' crimes.
Ellis is a new detective drama coming to Channel 5 and Acorn TV that follows a tenacious cop drafted in to help with failing investigations.
The three-part crime drama stars Mr Loverman’s Sharon D Clarke as DCI Ellis with Outlander’s Andrew Gower as DS Harper, her right-hand man. The pair are parachuted into cases that seem to be at a dead end, and each time they must win over the local task forces and solve seemingly impossible crimes. The series is made up of three feature-length episodes
Here’s everything you need to about the Channel 5 crime series Ellis…
Ellis release date
Ellis is a three-part series starting on Channel 5 on Thursday October 31 2024 at 8pm, with episodes running weekly at the same time and also becoming available on streaming service MY5.
The series will also land on streaming service Acorn TV from Monday November 4 2024.
Is there an Ellis trailer?
Yes the first trailer for Ellis has been released. Take a look below...
Ellis plot
The three-part series follows DCI Ellis, who as a female cop is used to being overlooked and underestimated. However, she’s a top-class murder detective and, alongside her partner DS Harper, is brought in to help solve cases that seem to be making no progress. However, their arrival isn’t always welcome.
Each two-hour episode sees the pair arrive at a different police station to tackle a particularly tricky crime.
Ellis cast — Sharon D Clarke as DCI Ellis
Actress and singer Sharon D Clarke plays the compassionate and determined cop DCI Ellis, who says: "You're not with a particular police station or the same people each week, Ellis is transient. Having someone coming in and troubleshooting is nice. The dynamic changes every time. So the audience sees how various police stations are run. And it's how Ellis deals with that. Plus, each episode, I get a fresh cast to play with!
"She has a daughter, Grace, who’s been through a hard time, and there is a story going on there… But [at work] Ellis has risen through the ranks and found her niche. For her, it's about principles and protocol. And her memory’s phenomenal – mine’s rubbish! She's looking at cases from another angle. And she’s digging beneath the surface and seeing how dots connect. But although Ellis seems impatient and demanding with people she's working with, she has compassion and understanding with victims. I love that she's different, and it’s all about emotion."
* Sharon D Clarke was a regular on the hospital drama Holby City, playing Lola Griffin from 2003 to 2019, and was Anita in the film Rocks. She starred in recent BBC1 drama Mr Loverman. She played the UK Prime Minister in the film Red, White and Royal Blue and has also been in Showtrial, Doctor Who, Tau, Rocketman, Informer and The Singing Detective. She narrated the children’s series Boo! and has won three Olivier Awards.
Andrew Gower as DS Harper
Andrew Gower plays Ellis’ number two DS Harper (see in picture above). He's previously played Prince Charles Edward Stuart in Outlander and Nick Cutler in Being Human. He’s also been in Black Mirror, Carnival Row, The Winter King, You, Monroe and Miss Scarlet and The Duke.
Who else is starring in Ellis?
Other cast for Ellis include Josh Bolt as DI Archie Dent, Charley Webb as Abbie Summerfield, Stephanie Levi-John as Naomi McKeith, Wayne Foskett as Michael Edwards.
Behind the scenes and more on Ellis
Ellis is produced by Company Pictures, in association with All3Media International – which will also represent the show outside of the UK — and Northern Ireland Screen.
Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Paramount UK and Channel 5, says: “Ellis is a brilliant addition to our scripted slate, and we are thrilled to be working with the teams at Acorn TV and Company Pictures on this gripping new series. I can’t wait to see the incredible Sharon D. Clarke bring DCI Ellis to life.”
Catherine Mackin, Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises (Acorn TV), adds: “Acorn TV is known for compelling, intriguing and invigorating detective dramas, and Ellis delivers on every note. We are elated to have found our ideal DCI in the incomparable Sharon D. Clarke, and we are excited to work with both Channel 5 and Company Pictures again.”
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I'm a huge fan of television so I really have found the perfect job, as I've been writing about TV shows, films and interviewing major television, film and sports stars for over 25 years. I'm currently TV Content Director on What's On TV, TV Times, TV and Satellite Week magazines plus Whattowatch.com. I previously worked on Woman and Woman's Own in the 1990s. Outside of work I swim every morning, support Charlton Athletic football club and get nostalgic about TV shows Cagney & Lacey, I Claudius, Dallas and Tenko. I'm totally on top of everything good coming up too.