Daniel Mays is one of those incredible character actors who can really sink into the role he's playing. From a horrific criminal in Believe Me to a wealthy expat living in Ibiza in White Lines, the man has range. In Lynley, a compelling crime thriller, the actor takes on the role of DCI Brian Nies. Here's everything you need to know about the series, which is now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
What is Lynley about?
Lynley is the 2025 revival of a 2001 series called The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, which was originally based on the bestselling novels by Elizabeth George. The series follows DI Tommy Lynley, an aristocratic detective who works alongside DS Barbara Havers, who comes from a working-class background, to solve a different crime each episode.
The BBC description reads, "Mismatched duo Lynley and Havers have nothing in common - except a desire to see justice done. A fresh take on the crime classic, starring Leo Suter, Sofia Barclay and Daniel Mays."
Daniel Mays plays DCI Brian Nies, a senior detective on the Three Countries Major Incident Team who is highly wary of Lynley and his wealthy background, which leads to tension between the duo in the force.
Who else stars in Lynley?
As well as Daniel Mays as DCI Brian Nies, the cast includes:
- Leo Suter from Vikings: Valhalla and Sanditon plays DI Thomas Lynley
- Sofia Barclay from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Love Again as DS Barbara Havers
- Michael Workéyè from The Stolen Girl as DS/DC Tony Bekele
- Niamh Walsh from The Sandman and Good Omens as Helen Clyde
- Joshua Sher from Vera as Simon St. James
- Rosalyn Wright from A Kind of Spark and Waterloo Road as Maia Saunders
What are reviews of Lynley like?
Radio Times said, "Its refreshingly straight-forward storytelling and abundance of old-school charm should help reel in both a new generation and those who vaguely remember the original."
The Times said, "It’s tightly written by Steve Thompson, whose updated main man seems (appropriately in our more democratic times) less at ease with his privilege than Parker’s was. Ed Bazalgette’s directing is also beautiful, his camera devouring the salty scenery and making full use of all that fancy drone technology largely unavailable to the last Lynley production team."
The Wall Street Journal added, "It’s a beautiful-looking show overall, though there is a stark imbalance to the storytelling in the series, even if it becomes increasingly absorbing along the way."
Where can you watch Lynley?
Four episodes of Lynley are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. And the good news is, each episode is around 90 minutes long, so you can really settle into them each evening.
