British Crime Thriller Dark Heart Returning for Second Season

ITV has recommissioned the thriller Dark Heart, starring Tom Riley, for six new episodes.

Riley returns as DI Will Wagstaffe, a man haunted by the murder of his parents when he was 16 years old. Dark Heart is inspired by characters created by novelist Adam Creed, who has written a series of books featuring Wagstaffe.

The 6×1-hour drama is the first commission for Kate Bartlett’s new drama label Silverprint Pictures, formerly ITV Studios Drama London. Filming will begin on Dark Heart in early spring 2018, with Chris Lang writing the first two-part story, Ben Harris (Marcella, The Musketeers) writing the second two-part story, and Lang writing episodes five and six.

ITV’s head of drama, Polly Hill, said: “We’re thrilled Tom Riley has agreed to return as Will Wagstaffe in Dark Heart. As the central character, he has immersed himself in police work to seek some form of closure for what has happened in his past. It’s a gritty, emotionally driven thriller from Chris Lang which I’m only too pleased to recommission from Kate Bartlett’s new drama label.”

Bartlett added: “Wagstaffe is an uncompromising, contemporary drama, which perfectly complements the Silverprint Pictures drama slate. Chris Lang has written truly compelling and atmospheric scripts and we’re delighted that Tom Riley is playing Will Wagstaffe.”