Strike: Lethal White - start date, cast and trailer for new BBC1 crime thriller

Strike: Lethal White sees Strike and Robin outside the Houses of Parliament
(Image credit: BBC/Bronte Films/Steffan Hill)

Strike: Lethal White sees Cormoran in danger, while Robin goes undercover at the Houses of Parliament

Strike: Lethal White is the latest BBC1 murder mystery adapted from J.K. Rowling’s best-selling novels, penned under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

Tom Burke is back as army veteran Cormoran Strike alongside Holliday Grainger as his professional partner, Robin Ellacott, in the new story. The previous stories were Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm and Career of Evil.

When will Strike: Lethal White be on BBC1?

Strike in Strike: Lethal White

Strike is in danger in his latest case (Image credit: BBC/Bronte Films/Steffan Hill)

The new series will start on BBC1 on Sunday 30th August 2020. It will then continue on Monday 31st August. It’s then expected to conclude with its final two episodes the following week (see our TV Guide for more information).

What’s the plot?

A young man named Billy Knight arrives in Strike’s office telling the story of a child he saw strangled many years ago. At the same time Strike is hired by a government minister, Jasper Chiswell, to investigate Billy’s brother, Jimmy Knight, who is blackmailing him. As Strike tries to work out the connections, Robin is sent undercover at the Houses of Parliament.

Star Tom Burke explains: “Lethal White is the fourth book. It picks up pretty much where Career Of Evil left off, some months on. It’s an interesting point in their relationship.

“In the book, the first murder doesn’t occur until about 200 pages in, but there’s an awful lot of other stuff going on.

“There’s a cold case that is alluded to. In fact, it was never a case; there’s a murder that is alleged to have happened, and they’re trying to get to the bottom of it. In a very noir-ish way, two different cases start to overlap each other. It’s also set in the world of politics.”

How many parts is Strike: Lethal White?

Four-parts. Interestingly all four parts are directed by former EastEnders star Sue Tully, who played Michelle Fowler.

MORE: Everything you need to know about Strictly Come Dancing 2020

Who’s in it?

Joining Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger is Hustle star Robert Glenister as government minister Jasper Chiswell. Dickensian actor Joseph Quinn plays Billy Knight. Meanwhile, Kerr Logan (Alias Grace) returns as Robin’s fiancé and Natasha O’Keefe (Peaky Blinders) is back as Strike’s complicated ex Charlotte.

Strike: Lethal White trailer - what does it reveal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8o0weE6wyM

Well, we see Strike seemingly attacked by a butter knife! We also discover that Robin is posing as the minsiter's goddaughter as she goes undercover and it looks like she's quickly in danger...

Strike: Lethal White begins on BBC1 on Sunday 30th August 2020.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.


Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 


David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.


Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!