Moving from one cop to another, Adrian Dunbar swaps Superintendent Ted Hastings for retired Detective Alex Ridley.
But who Northern Irish actor, what else did he do during his thirty-year career?
That’s all you need to know.

Who is Adrian Dunbar?
Dunbar is a Northern Irish actor and director, best known primarily for his work in theater and television, notably as Superintendent Ted Hastings of the BBC. Job responsibilities.
He was born on 1 August 1958 in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and was the eldest of his seven siblings.
After studying at St Joseph’s College, Enniskillen, he worked various jobs, including a pig slaughterhouse, before he secured a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London at the age of 21.
Dunbar told once that leaving Northern Ireland in the 1970s was something of a relief.
He said: “Then it was a difficult place, very tense, people lived under tremendous pressure. London was a breather.”
The actor also spoke Guardian that his first year at drama school was his happiest.
“[The] a sense of freedom, to do what I wanted, and to be with wonderful people,” he said.
Dunbar appeared in several breakout roles in the 1980s and 1990s, however, the early 2000s was something of a quieter period for him – until he was cast in Job responsibilities in 2012.
With the role of Hastings, Dunbar was described as “one of the hottest stars on British television” in his 50s.
He said Saga magazine: “I’m glad it took time. I couldn’t handle fame when I was younger.
“It happened when I knew myself well enough and when I was old enough to take it all with a pinch of salt.”
Is he in a group?
In addition to acting, Dunbar has been involved in the music scene throughout his career, even performing in his own band called Adie Dunbar and the Jonahs.
Speaking to The Times this month, Dunbar explained that dipping his toes into a range of creative pursuits helped take the pressure off as an actor because “if something didn’t work out, I would turn to something else to keep me going.”
He said, “I did festivals with the band and then performed. I made enough money to keep the show going, which means I have a lot of interests now.”
Back in 2019, Dunbar said he hoped to spend some time in the recording studio.
Speaking with Sunday Life Belfast Telegraph, he said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do – maybe it would be interesting to write some songs or something – but definitely I’m going to do something. I played in bands many years ago, that’s how it all started.
“I played in bands, sang backing vocals and all that stuff.
“It was always something that was there and I just didn’t have the opportunity to do it.”
He added: “I started playing and it went away and you focused on other things, but I always kept doing it and I always did gigs with my friends, a lot of jazz gigs with Ronnie Scott and stuff like that. over the years”.
What movies and series has he been in?
Although many know Dunbar from Job responsibilitiesThe Northern Irish actor has appeared in a number of films and TV shows throughout his career.
His filmography includes roles in films such as separate world (1988) my left leg (1989) crying game (1992) Widows Peak (1994) Richard III (1995) Mad about Harry (2000) dolphin eye (2006) The Last Confession of Alexander Pierce (2008) Mother’s milk (2011) good swings (2012) and Snowman (2017).
His television credits also include shows such as Fear (1988) center point (1990) Children of the North (1991) Melissa (1997) Suspicion (2003) Ashes to Ashes (2009) silent witness (2012) A touch of fabric (2014) Broken (2017) Blood (2018) Inside No. 9 (2021) and its upcoming ITV police drama Ridley (2022).
He got married?
Dunbar married Australian actress and casting director Anna Naig (Sweeney 2, master of the game) in 1986, after fellow actress Joanne Whalley set them up on a blind date (Borgia, Daredevil).
Dunbar told Saga Magazine: “Joanna told me that she has a friend she would like me to meet.
“Anna came backstage and she had beautiful green eyes that really got me hooked. We went on several dates.
“Then we went to have a rest in Portugal.
“We laughed, we talked, we hit it off, and after that I moved almost immediately.”
Speaking to Radio 4 about his wife, Dunbar said: “I don’t know anyone I can befriend, who can handle me.
“I have a woman and she is very nice. I wouldn’t let her down.”
The couple have a daughter, Madeleine, and Dunbar is also stepfather to Ted, Nigh’s son from a previous relationship.
Dunbar is the grandfather of three children – Amalia, Akrio and Zephyr.
What is Ridley and when does it go?
Ridley is ITV’s new detective drama starring Dunbar as retired Detective Alex Ridley, now a consultant and re-engaging with DI’s former protégé, Carol Farman, played by Brona Waugh.Our house, Viewpoint), who is now in charge of the investigation.
ITV reports: “When Carol brought him on as a police consultant on a complex and compelling murder case, the investigation took a dark and unexpected turn. Turning to her old mentor for support, Carol seeks access to Ridley’s unique knowledge of crime-solving that has served them so well in the past.
“With more intriguing cases to uncover, Ridley will rekindle his impressive and successful partnership with Carol.
“Inspired by real-life retired detectives re-joining the police in a consulting role, given increasingly overwhelmed resources, Ridley will explore thought-provoking crime stories in an original and distinctive way.”
The first of four episodes of Ridley will air on ITV on Sunday 28 August at 8pm. Each episode lasts two hours and ends at 22:00.
If you can’t watch Ridley while it’s streaming, you can follow Hub ITV.