Cooper & Fry returns to Channel 5 this month as hit crime drama gets another primetime outing

Fans of Cooper & Fry have another opportunity to revisit the hit crime drama, as Channel 5 is bringing the series back to its Friday night schedule later this month.

The eight-part second series will receive a primetime repeat run, starting on Friday 13 November at 9pm, giving viewers the chance to catch up with the investigations of the unlikely detective duo.

Based on Stephen Booth’s bestselling crime novels, Cooper & Fry stars Robert James-Collier (Downton Abbey, The Inheritance) as DC Ben Cooper and Mandip Gill (Doctor Who, Can You Keep a Secret?) as DS Diane Fry.

Set against the atmospheric and often mysterious backdrop of the Peak District, the drama follows the two detectives as they investigate a succession of unusual and sometimes disturbing murder cases.

Although they make a formidable team, Ben and Diane have very different approaches to police work, with their contrasting personalities and investigative methods frequently putting them at odds.

The second series builds on the unique friendship established in the first, as the pair tackle crimes steeped in the folklore and traditions of the area while also attempting to navigate their complicated personal lives.

What happens in the first episode of Cooper & Fry?

The opening episode sees Ben Cooper and Diane Fry investigating an unusual discovery on a Derbyshire farm.

When a body is unearthed during renovation work, the mismatched detectives must put their differences aside and work together to uncover the truth.

With their contrasting approaches to investigations, the pair face the challenge of finding common ground as they attempt to solve the case.

The episode promises another atmospheric mystery, with the beautiful but sometimes unsettling Peak District providing the backdrop to the investigation.

The series combines traditional police procedural storytelling with the distinctive characters and locations that have made Stephen Booth’s novels so popular.

Who stars in Cooper & Fry series two?

Robert James-Collier and Mandip Gill return as the central detective duo, alongside several familiar faces from the first series.

Lorcan Cranitch (Blue Lights, Leonard and Hungry Paul) returns as DI Hitchens, while Charlotte Bradley (The Dry, Arctic Circle) reprises her role as Isobel Cooper.

There are also some new additions to the cast.

Pollyanna McIntosh-Goldthwait (The Walking Dead, Vikings: Valhalla) joins as DI Kim Armstrong, alongside Scott Graham (Vikings, Redemption) as DC Gavin Murfin and Kathy Rose O’Brien (Small Town, Big Story, Deadly Cuts) as Liz Petty.

The second series will draw on four of Stephen Booth’s novels: The Devil’s Edge, Fall Down Dead, One Last Breath and The Murder Road.

Mandip Gill and Robert James-Collier on returning

Mandip Gill has spoken about her excitement at returning to the role of Diane Fry following the positive response to the first series.

She said:

“I’m thrilled to be returning to Cooper & Fry after the brilliant reaction to series one. It’s a real pleasure to be working alongside Rob again and I’m excited for audiences to see where the story takes us this time.”

Robert James-Collier is equally delighted to be back as DC Ben Cooper, with the actor looking forward to reuniting with his co-star and tackling more mysterious cases.

He said:

“I’m thrilled to be back playing DC Ben Cooper along with my good friend Mandip Gill in the role of Diane Fry. The audience really warmed to the first series of Cooper & Fry and we hope they will again, so stay tuned as we have lots more murders to solve and all sorts of strange goings-on down in Edendale.”

Channel 5 delighted with Cooper & Fry’s success

The second series was commissioned by 5’s Commissioning Editors Paul Testar and Greg Barnett, alongside Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Drama Sebastian Cardwell.

Paul Testar believes the series has struck a chord with Channel 5 viewers and is looking forward to bringing more of Stephen Booth’s stories to the screen.

He said:

“Cooper & Fry proved to be a huge hit with 5’s audience and we’re incredibly excited to bring more of Stephen Booth’s novels to life. Rob and Mandip make a formidable detective duo, and we can’t wait to see what Cooper and Fry get their teeth into this series.”

Mike Benson and Jonathan Hall will executive produce for Clapperboard, alongside Tamryn Reinecke of Pale Rebel Productions.

Ben Court and Caroline Ip return as lead writers, while Ronan Burke and Rob Burke take on directing duties.

Jonathan Hall, Executive Producer at Clapperboard, is also looking forward to returning to the Peak District for another collection of mysteries.

He said:

“We’re thrilled to be returning to the Peak District with Cooper & Fry for a new set of gripping murder mysteries. Steve Booth’s fantastic novels are packed with memorable characters and atmospheric crimes that we’re looking forward to bringing to 5 soon.”

STUDIO TF1 will handle international distribution of the series, with Karine Atlan, EVP Acquisitions and International Co-Productions, welcoming the opportunity to continue the partnership.

She said:

“We’re thrilled to deepen our partnership with 5 and Clapperboard on a second series of Cooper & Fry. The success of the first series confirmed the strength of the brand and its audience appeal and reinforces STUDIO TF1’s ambition to become a leading destination for premium English-language scripted content.”

When is Cooper & Fry back on Channel 5?

The second series of Cooper & Fry returns to Channel 5 for a primetime repeat run on Friday 13 November at 9pm.

The eight episodes will air on Friday nights, offering viewers another chance to enjoy the investigations of Ben Cooper and Diane Fry.

WhereToWatch.tv previously exclusively revealed that Cooper & Fry would be returning for a second series, and the latest scheduling announcement gives fans another opportunity to catch up with the popular detective drama.

Cooper & Fry series two starts Friday 13 November at 9pm on 5.

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