Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger Return as BBC’s Hit Crime Drama Enters Darkest Chapter Yet

The BBC has confirmed that Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger will return for the next instalment of its hit crime drama Strike, with production underway on The Running Grave, the seventh story in the long-running series. The new season will consist of five 60-minute episodes and is being produced in partnership with HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Burke reprises his role as private investigator Cormoran Strike, while Grainger returns as his trusted business partner Robin Ellacott. Since the series debuted in 2017, the duo’s evolving professional and personal dynamic has become central to the show’s success, earning consistent praise from critics and audiences alike.

Based on the bestselling crime novels written by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, Strike has grown into one of the BBC’s most reliable drama franchises. All seven novels in the series have topped national and international bestseller lists, with more than 20 million copies sold worldwide across more than 50 countries and translations in 43 languages.

The Running Grave introduces a chilling new case that pushes both detectives into dangerous and unfamiliar territory. When wealthy art dealer Sir Colin Edensor and his wife Sally approach Strike and Ellacott, they are desperate to reconnect with their estranged son Will, who has become deeply embedded in a secretive religious organisation known as the Universal Humanitarian Church.

Led by the charismatic and enigmatic Jonathan Wace, the church presents itself as a philanthropic movement with celebrity supporters and a polished public image. Behind that façade, however, lie allegations of psychological manipulation, abuse, and financial exploitation. Will Edensor’s inheritance has reportedly been siphoned into the organisation, and his parents fear he has been fully indoctrinated.

To uncover the truth, Robin Ellacott undertakes her most perilous assignment yet, going undercover inside the church’s isolated Norfolk headquarters, Chapman Farm. As she embeds herself within the group, Robin is subjected to intense psychological pressure, rigid routines, and a belief system built around obedience and control.

At the centre of the church’s mythology is the story of the “Drowned Prophet,” Daiyu, a figure believed by followers to be divinely reincarnated. As Strike investigates from the outside, speaking to former members and critics who claim to have been silenced by the church’s aggressive legal tactics, Robin experiences the full force of life inside the organisation. Her safety becomes increasingly uncertain as the detectives realise that uncovering the truth about Daiyu’s death may be key to dismantling the church’s power.

The new series boasts a strong supporting cast of acclaimed British actors. James Fleet joins as Sir Colin Edensor, with Nichola McAuliffe portraying Sally Edensor. Keeley Forsyth appears as Mazu Wace, Fabian McCallum as Will Edensor, and John Lynch takes on the pivotal role of Jonathan Wace.

Several familiar faces also return, including Ruth Sheen as Strike’s office manager Pat, alongside Jack Greenlees as Sam Barclay, Tupele Dorgu as Midge, Natasha O’Keeffe as Charlotte, Sarah Sweeney as Lucy, Ben Crompton as Shanker, Stephen Hagan as DCI Richard Murphy, and Caitlin Innes Edwards as Ilsa. Their continued presence reinforces the richly developed world that has become a hallmark of the series.

Critics have frequently described Strike as “quietly brilliant,” praising its atmospheric storytelling, measured pacing, and character-driven approach. Burke’s portrayal of the wounded yet incisive Strike has been lauded for its restraint, while Grainger’s Robin has been celebrated as one of the most compelling female characters in contemporary British crime television.

Speaking previously about their on-screen partnership, Burke has noted that his working relationship with Grainger continues to deepen with each series, a sentiment echoed by fans who have followed the pair’s slow-burn dynamic over multiple seasons.

With its exploration of cult psychology, manipulation, and moral ambiguity, The Running Grave promises to be the darkest and most intense chapter of the series to date. As the detectives confront forces that operate beyond conventional criminal networks, the stakes have never been higher.

The new season is expected to air later this year, with BBC crime drama fans eagerly anticipating the return of one of television’s most compelling investigative duos.