New BBC Crime Thriller Series Filmed in Bradford Ahead of City of Culture Celebrations

An upcoming BBC thriller series has been filmed in Bradford, preceding its launch as a component of next year’s City of Culture festivities. The six-part series, named Virdee, is adapted from the novels by local author AA Dhand. It chronicles the narrative of a detective who becomes alienated from his Sikh family after marrying a Muslim woman. Staz Nair, an actor recognized for his work in “Game of Thrones,” plays the central character, Detective Harry Virdee. He remarked: “This show leads with vulnerability more than any detective drama I’ve ever seen. It’s a privilege to be bringing AA Dhand’s hope for his city to life.” Nair is joined by Aysha Kala, who portrays Virdee’s wife Saima, and Danyal Ismail, cast as his new partner DS Amin. AA Dhand, the series’ creator, writer, and executive producer, lauded the cast as “truly diverse,” adding that they possess a “real passion for this show.” More than two-thirds of the participants, tutors, and consultants involved in the production hailed from the West Yorkshire area. Producers also formed a partnership with Bradford Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Screen Yorkshire to establish Screen Academy Bradford, a new regional training initiative. This program is designed to offer a range of training courses for individuals entering the TV industry, with the goal of encouraging increased diversity in production. A spokesperson commented: “By investing in regional talent, Screen Academy Bradford not only supports the creative community in West Yorkshire but also ensures that the stories told on screen resonate with, and reflect the richness of the communities from which they emerge.”