Outlander and Trigger Point stars in first look at dark new serial killer mystery series

Laura Donnelly and Mark Rowley lead the cast of The Dark.

Laura Donnelly as Detective Monica Kennedy walking up a countryside lane on a grey and cloudy day, wearing a coat and looking out over the countryside, with police tape to her side.

ITV Studios / Mark Mainz

Published: Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 12:33 pm

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There's something about the Scottish countryside and the threat of a looming criminal that makes brand new thriller The Dark seem like a sure-fire binge-watch.

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Well, we now have the first-look images from the upcoming ITV drama, which promises to be just as gritty as its title makes out.

Adapted by Matt Hartley from GR Halliday’s debut novel From the Shadows, this new six-parter sees Laura Donnelly (Outlander) and Mark Rowley (Trigger Point) take centre stage as the detectives tasked with hunting down a twisted serial killer.

The first-look images show Donnelly and Rowley as DI Monica Kennedy and DC Connor Crawford respectively, walking around crime scenes and the expansive Scottish countryside where the series unfolds.

Mark Rowley as Detective Connor Crawford walking through a wet and muddy plot of land, standing in the centre and looking behind him.

Mark Rowley as Detective Connor Crawford. ITV Studios / Mark Mainz

The synopsis for The Dark reads: "When the body of a young man is found eerily staged in the idyllic Scottish wilderness, detective Monica Kennedy fears this is just the beginning of a terrifying campaign that will strike the heart of a rural community.

"As paranoia rises, suspicions and secrets are forced into the light, and the locals start to realise that there is a serial killer hidden amongst them."

It continues: "With her experience of dealing with the darkest of humanity Monica Kennedy quickly becomes entangled in a heightened game of cat and mouse with a cunning killer. Only she can stop this monster before he claims any more victims.

"But when her own history creeps up on her, she begins to lose trust in her own judgement. Will it be her own actions that are the biggest risk to herself and her family?"

Fans will recognise Donnelly from Outlander, where she starred as Jenny Fraser Murray, as well as shows like The Nevers, Beowulf, Britannia and, more recently, Say Nothing.

As for Rowley, he is also best known for roles in Karen Pirie, The Last Kingdom and The Witcher: Blood Origin.

Helen Baxendale as Bethany Morgan standing outside on a grey day and holding a rifle in her hands, looking stressed as she also wears a gilet and shirt.

Helen Baxendale as Bethany Morgan. ITV Studios / Mark Mainz

Other cast members for The Dark include Helen Baxendale (Noughts + Crosses, Cold Feet), who we also get a first glimpse of as her character Bethany Morgan is seen holding a rifle while standing outside.

The description teases that Bethany is "pushed to her limit after Detective Monica appears on her doorstep once again with a case linked to her missing son".

It was also previously reported that Emun Elliott (The Gold) will be starring alongside Baxendale as her partner, with the pair still distraught in the aftermath of their son's disappearance.

Read more:

Rona Morrison (Our Ladies), Cal MacAninch (Trigger Point), Stella Gonet (The Salisbury Poisonings), Phil McKee (The Rig), Tunji Kasim (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story) and Catherine McCormack (Lockerbie: a Search for Truth) round out the cast.

Gilles Bannier – who is known for his work on Trigger Point, Marcella and Blue Lights – is on lead directing duties, as well as serving as an executive producer on The Dark while Lena Rae and Nessah Muthy have also penned the adaptation.

Matt Brown – who has worked on The Rig, Fear and The Sixth Commandment – has also produced the series.

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The Dark will coming to ITV, STV and available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player this summer.

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Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Morgan Cormack, smiling against a lime green background

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.

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