Ellis is a new detective drama on Channel 5 and Acorn TV that follows a tenacious cop drafted in to help with failing investigations.
The three-part crime drama stars Mr Loverman’s Sharon D Clarke as DCI Ellis with Outlander’s Andrew Gower as DS Harper, her right-hand man. The pair are parachuted into cases that seem to be at a dead end, and each time they must win over the local task forces and solve seemingly impossible crimes. The series is made up of three feature-length episodes
Here’s everything you need to about the Channel 5 crime series Ellis…
Ellis release date
Ellis is a three-part series starting on Channel 5 from Thursday October 31 2024 at 8pm, with episodes running weekly at the same time and also becoming available on streaming service MY5.
The series will also land on streaming service Acorn TV from Monday November 4 2024.
Is there an Ellis trailer?
Yes a couple of trailers for Ellis have now been released. Take a look at both below...
Ellis plot
The three-part series follows DCI Ellis, who as a female cop is used to being overlooked and underestimated. However, she’s a top-class murder detective and, alongside her partner DS Harper, is brought in to help solve cases that seem to be making no progress. However, their arrival isn’t always welcome.
Each two-hour episode sees the pair arrive at a different police station to tackle a particularly tricky crime.
Ellis series 1 episode guide
Here's a guide to the three Ellis episodes which we'll be adding to as the series progresses...
Episode 1: Thursday October 31
In the opening episode, Ellis battles faces hostile local officers as she looks into the shocking death of a talented young swimmer and faces a race against time to find his missing girlfriend. "Ellis is not welcomed, because if she's there, it’s because the force has got something wrong," explains Sharon. "And the dead boy’s mum is an ex-MP who doesn’t trust this police station, which is partly why Ellis has been brought in." Ambitious DS Chet Harper (Andrew Gower), who’s based at the station, is assigned to work with Ellis, and, after her initial exasperation with him, she spots his potential and he eventually joins her on her subsequent missions. "Harper must win Ellis over," shares Sharon."He sees she does things differently and thinks, “That's the kind of cop I want to be.” And she sees something in him. Their partnership is glorious!"
Episode 2: Thursday November 7
DCI Ellis and DS Harper have their work cut out when they investigate the disappearance of a police officer. After DS Jenny Rawler vanishes, the pair are sent to her station, where they soon uncover connections to a local crime family, the Duffys, while secrets in Jenny’s home life emerge. But there are also concerns about the station’s sexist culture, and Jenny was due to make a complaint about workplace bullying. Can Ellis (Sharon D Clarke) and Harper (Andrew Gower) get to the truth? "It’s to do with a detective, so it feels personal," says Andrew. "But there’s corruption and chauvinistic men, and they are met with friction…"
Episode 3: Thursday November 14
The disappearance of a young couple sparks a challenging investigation in the finale of Ellis. While on honeymoon in a Peak District village near a treacherous river, Rachel and Oz Hoffman vanish. And as DCI Ellis (Sharon D Clarke) and DS Harper (Andrew Gower) are brought in to help, the case takes a chilling new direction when a severed hand is found... But there are several lines of enquiry, as Rachel’s complex past connections to the area, and the time she spent in a band with a group of pals, including fiery Abbie Summerfield (Charley Webb), emerges. Meanwhile, online amateur sleuths hinder the detectives’ progress. ALso look out for Benidorm star Josh Bolt as DI Archie Dent.
"It’s a small place where everyone knows each other, but the case is overwhelming the police and it’s on social media, so people are trying to solve it," says Sharon. ‘Some are using social media for their own agenda, and it gets in the way."
Ellis cast — Sharon D Clarke as DCI Ellis
Actress and singer Sharon D Clarke plays the compassionate and determined cop DCI Ellis, who says: "You're not with a particular police station or the same people each week, Ellis is transient. Having someone coming in and troubleshooting is nice. The dynamic changes every time. So the audience sees how various police stations are run. And it's how Ellis deals with that. Plus, each episode, I get a fresh cast to play with!
"She has a daughter, Grace, who’s been through a hard time, and there is a story going on there… But [at work] Ellis has risen through the ranks and found her niche. For her, it's about principles and protocol. And her memory’s phenomenal – mine’s rubbish! She's looking at cases from another angle. And she’s digging beneath the surface and seeing how dots connect. But although Ellis seems impatient and demanding with people she's working with, she has compassion and understanding with victims. I love that she's different, and it’s all about emotion."
* Sharon D Clarke was a regular on the hospital drama Holby City, playing Lola Griffin from 2003 to 2019, and was Anita in the film Rocks. She starred in recent BBC1 drama Mr Loverman. She played the UK Prime Minister in the film Red, White and Royal Blue and has also been in Showtrial, Doctor Who, Tau, Rocketman, Informer and The Singing Detective. She narrated the children’s series Boo! and has won three Olivier Awards.
There's more of Sharon's interview on Ellis here...
'DCI Ellis is cool, I like her! She is undaunted and dogged'
Andrew Gower as DS Harper
Andrew Gower plays Ellis’ number two DS Harper (see in picture above). He's previously played Prince Charles Edward Stuart in Outlander and Nick Cutler in Being Human. He’s also been in Black Mirror, Carnival Row, The Winter King, You, Monroe and Miss Scarlet and The Duke.
Who else is starring in Ellis series 1?
Other cast for Ellis include Last Tango In Halifax star Josh Bolt as DI Archie Dent in episode three, former Emmerdale star Charley Webb as Abbie Summerfield in episode 2, Stephanie Levi-John as Naomi McKeith, plus Wayne Foskett as Michael Edwards.
Behind the scenes and more on Ellis season 1
Ellis is produced by Company Pictures, in association with All3Media International – which will also represent the show outside of the UK — and Northern Ireland Screen.
Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Paramount UK and Channel 5, says: “Ellis is a brilliant addition to our scripted slate, and we are thrilled to be working with the teams at Acorn TV and Company Pictures on this gripping new series. I can’t wait to see the incredible Sharon D. Clarke bring DCI Ellis to life.”
Catherine Mackin, Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises (Acorn TV), adds: “Acorn TV is known for compelling, intriguing and invigorating detective dramas, and Ellis delivers on every note. We are elated to have found our ideal DCI in the incomparable Sharon D. Clarke, and we are excited to work with both Channel 5 and Company Pictures again.”
