ITV’s Winter brings Richard Armitage to the centre of a gripping new crime drama
Richard Armitage is heading back to ITV for Winter, a six-part detective drama that puts a brilliant but unconventional forensic pathologist at the heart of some of Bristol’s most difficult murder investigations.
For viewers who enjoy the tension of Silent Witness, Broadchurch, Dept Q, Line of Duty and Vigil, the new series has plenty to tempt them. Armitage plays Dr Ethan Winter, a gifted pathologist whose ability to interpret evidence and understand victims makes him an important part of the police investigation team.
The series has already begun filming in Bristol and Belgium, with Annabel Scholey joining Armitage as DI Lauren Bell.
Richard Armitage plays an unconventional forensic expert
Set in Bristol, Winter centres on Dr Ethan Winter, described as one of the most gifted pathologists of his generation.
His greatest asset is his analytical mind. Winter can make connections others might miss, using his forensic knowledge and deductive skills to help the police unravel complex murder cases.
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But he is hardly a conventional investigator. His willingness to bend the rules makes him an unpredictable presence, even when his instincts prove valuable.
That approach brings him together with DI Lauren Bell, played by Annabel Scholey. Bell is meticulous, driven and firmly focused on the investigation, making her a natural counterbalance to Winter’s more unconventional methods.
Together, they make an intriguing crime-solving partnership, with Winter’s forensic insight complementing Bell’s investigative instincts.
There is a much more personal mystery underneath the cases
Although each episode will tell its own crime story, Winter has a continuing mystery running through the series.
Someone close to Ethan was murdered, and the case remains unsolved. The death continues to haunt him, and he has begun investigating it himself, outside the official investigation.
That private search for answers could put his career and judgment at risk, particularly as he becomes increasingly consumed by the case.
The structure gives the series two storylines to follow: a self-contained murder investigation in each episode and the longer-running mystery surrounding Winter’s personal life.
Who is in the cast?
Armitage leads the series as Dr Ethan Winter, following recent mystery and thriller roles in Fool Me Once, Missing You and Red Eye.
Scholey stars opposite him as DI Lauren Bell. Her previous credits include Rivals, The Sixth Commandment and The Split.
The supporting cast includes:
- Jamie Kenna (House of the Dragon)
- Carlotta Banat (Heads of State)
- Josh Barrow (Hostage)
- Adwoa Akoto (The Sandman)
- Jay Taylor (Ten Percent)
- Rishi Rian (Ridley)
- Deirdre Mullins (Bad Sisters)
- Ellis Elijah (Mammoth)
- Evie Coles (The Lady Grace Mysteries)
The additional casting was announced as filming began in Bristol and Belgium in February 2026.
Winter is adapted from a French crime series
The new ITV drama is based on Balthazar, the French crime series created by Clothilde Jamin and Clélia Constantine and produced by Beaubourg Stories.
The original series ran from 2018 to 2023 and followed brilliant forensic pathologist Raphaël Balthazar as he worked alongside police to solve complex murder cases.
For the British adaptation, Winter has been written for television by David Allison and Mark Greig. The series is directed by Dries Vos and Kaat Beels, with Matt Baker producing.
When will Winter be on ITV?
Winter is a six-part police procedural, with each episode running for an hour including adverts.
Filming began in Bristol and Belgium in early 2026. The series will air on ITV and STV, with episodes available to stream on ITVX and STV Player. In the US, Winter will be broadcast and streamed by PBS MASTERPIECE.
A specific UK release date has not yet been announced, but ITV has confirmed the series is intended for a winter launch.
With a forensic specialist who refuses to play entirely by the rules, a determined detective at his side and a murder mystery of his own to solve, Winter looks set to give ITV another crime drama to keep an eye on when the colder months arrive.