Annika is a British crime drama television series, based on the BBC Radio 4 drama Annika Stranded.[2][3] Produced by Black Camel Pictures for Alibi and All3Media,[1] the first episode aired on 17 August 2021.[4][5]
| Annika | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Annika Stranded |
| Written by | Nick Walker |
| Directed by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 6[1] |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Arabella Page Croft |
| Production company | Black Camel Pictures |
| Distributor | All3Media |
| Release | |
| Original network | Alibi |
| Original release | 17 August 2021 (2021-08-17) – present (present) |
Annika Strandhed is a Detective Inspector in the Scottish Police, recently transferred to the Glasgow Marine Homicide Unit (MHU). She brings her teenage daughter with her. The relationship between Annika and her daughter is the basis for the sub-plot across all the episodes. Annika regularly breaks the fourth wall to communicate directly with the audience about aspects of the current case and personal matters.
Annika is of Norwegian ancestry, mirroring the original radio series Annika Stranded, which was also written by Nick Walker (no relation to Nicola)[6] and featured Nicola Walker in the title role, but was set in Oslo rather than Glasgow.[7]
In August 2022, Annika was confirmed to be returning for a second series.[8]
Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed (Nicola Walker) is the lead of the new Marine Homicide Unit (MHU). She is very invested in her job while trying to maintain a good relationship with her daughter Morgan. Her Norwegian ancestry and connections continue to influence her thoughts and emotions though she is now in Scotland. She and DS McAndrew were in police college at the same time but haven't seen each other for years.
Detective Sergeant Michael McAndrews (Jamie Sives) is a senior member of the MHU who lost out to Annika as the lead for the unit and harbours the belief that he is still the best to lead the unit. He views Annika as a smart but prickly individual to deal with. He is the team's search diver.
Detective Sergeant Tyrone Clarke has recently transferred from the Border Command, a police drug investigation unit, to try and reboot his career. He is very goal focused and used to working alone which clashes with the team environment Annika is trying to foster with the MHU.
Detective Constable Blair Ferguson (Katie Leung) is the analyst dealing with the data and technical support for the team. As the youngest member of the team Annika often asks her perspective about something involving Morgan.
Morgan Strandhed is the teenage daughter of Annika. She is regularly in conflict with her mother on various issues which her mother cannot see the teenager's perspective.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [9] | U.K. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Captain Ahab's Wife" | Phillip John | Nick Walker | 17 August 2021 (2021-08-17) | 1.66 [10] | |
| Annika begins leading a new Marine Homicide Unit and her teenage daughter (Morgan) starts at a new school. The coastguard finds a body in The Clyde, killed with a harpoon. The murder victim is the owner of a boat which takes tourists on whale hunts. The only suspect is killed in a hit-and-run road accident. Meanwhile, Morgan struggles to fit in and distracts her mother from the case. The episode ends with Annika questioning her parenting skills and, as a single parent, compares herself to Captain Ahab's wife. | ||||||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Phillip John | Nick Walker | 24 August 2021 (2021-08-24) | 1.24 | |
| A murder victim is found surrounded by stones with Norse runes on a drifting boat. Annika narrowly escapes death when the boat in intentionally exploded. Clues lead the MHU to a small island village. The seemingly idyllic village has Annika wondering if it would be a better environment to raise Morgan. But unsettling details of the case start destroying more lives. | ||||||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Phillip John | Nick Walker | 31 August 2021 (2021-08-31) | 1.09 | |
| Annika sees one of playwright Ibsen's plots play out in a homicide because the body is found floating in a reservoir. The victim's horrible behaviour while alive adds confusion to the case. Annika takes more than a parental interest in Morgan's therapist Jake. | ||||||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Fiona Walton | Lucia Haynes | 7 September 2021 (2021-09-07) | 0.92 | |
| An author who antagonized many people with her books is found murdered and the MHU must work through a list of suspects who all have something to hide. Blair finds a friend for Morgan that relationship starts blossoming quickly. A museum exhibit tour by Annika and Jake is viewed by Morgan as a thin pretext since Jake is no longer her therapist. Bridges provide an analogy throughout the episode. | ||||||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Fiona Walton | Frances Poet | 14 September 2021 (2021-09-14) | 0.92 | |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Fiona Walton | Nick Walker | 21 September 2021 (2021-09-21) | 0.98 | |
Principal photography for the series began on 14 December 2020[11] and ended on 2 April 2021.[12] Filming took place primarily in Glasgow, on the River Clyde, as well as in towns in Argyll.[3][13] The Beacon Arts Centre served as the homicide unit's base, and DI Strandhed's home was located on the banks of Loch Lomond.[13]
The theme music ("Bringing Murder to the Land") was written by Anton Newcombe and Dot Allison.[14]
In The Guardian, the opening episode of the TV series holds a 4-star review. "She’s a daffy Norwegian supercop with a dodgy accent. But Walker’s droll dialogue and womansplaining should keep you waterside for the long haul".[15] The Radio Times rated the same episode with 3 stars: "Not everything works in the first episode of the crime drama – but the central case is gripping enough".[16] The Killing Times also rated the first episode with 3 stars: "It's great to have Walker back on our screens and although Annika feels a bit light – Mare of Easttown it is most assuredly not – it's still worth a watch".[17]
Annika has broken records to become Alibi's most-watched drama for at least seven years. The first episode of the series attracted 410,000 viewers – 2.5 per cent of the audience share, making it the highest-rated programme since the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) started recording figures in January 2014.[10]