Clapperboard’s unlikely detective duo drama lands expanded run on 5

Clapperboard’s odd couple detective drama Cooper & Fry is returning for a bumper run on 5.

The series is adapted from Stephen Booth’s best-selling novels of the same name and stars Robert James-Collier and Mandip Gill.

The pair will reprise their roles in series two, which has doubled in order to eight eps, where they pair up once again to investigate a string of eerie murder cases in the Peak District. Building on a unique friendship forged in series one, the two will battle each other’s conflicting investigation styles while facing their complicated personal lives head on.

Cooper & Fry’s debut series made a strong start with its launch ep reaching 1.1m (8.7%), above the 771,000 (6.7%) slot average, when it aired in November 2025. The series went onto average just under 1m across its initial four-part run.

Other returning cast include of Lorcan Cranitch and Charlotte Bradley. New faces include Pollyanna McIntosh-Goldthwait as DI Kim Armstrong, Scott Graham as DC Gavin Murfin and Kathy Rose O’Brien as Liz Petty.

The second series of Cooper & Fry will cover Booth’s novels The Devil’s Edge, Fall Down Dead, One Last Breath, The Murder Road.

It was ordered for 5 by Paul Testar and Greg Barnett alongside head of drama and deputy chief content officer Sebastian Cardwell.

Testar said: “Cooper & Fry proved to be a huge hit with 5’s audience and we’re incredibly excited to bring more of Stephen Booth’s novels to life.

“Rob and Mandip make a formidable detective duo, and we can’t wait to see what Cooper and Fry get their teeth into this series.”

Mike Benson and Jonathan Hall will exec produce for Clapperboard along with Tamryn Reinecke of Pale Rebel Productions.

Ben Court and Caroline Ip return as lead writers with Ronan Burke and Rob Burke as directors for the series. Studio TF1 will handle the international distribution.

Studio TF1’s executive vice-president of acquisitions and international co-productions Karine Atlan said the series “deepen(s) our partnership with 5 and Clapperboard”.

She added: “The success of the first series confirmed the strength of the brand and its audience and reinforces Studio TF1’s ambition to become a leading destination for premium English-language scripted content.”

Cooper & Fry series two is filming now and will air on 5 in 2027.