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Strike (TV series)

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Strike
Series title over a headshot of the dishevelled title character in his office
Also known asC. B. Strike
Genre
Based onCormoran Strike
by Robert Galbraith
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Opening theme"I Walk Beside You" by Beth Rowley
ComposerAdrian Johnston
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes15
Production
Executive producers
  • Ben Richards
  • Neil Blair
  • Ruth Kenley-Letts
  • J. K. Rowling
  • Elizabeth Kilgarriff
  • Tom Edge
  • Tommy Bulfin
Producers
  • Jackie Larkin
  • Alex Rendell
Running time57–59 minutes
Production companiesBrontë Film and Television
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release27 August 2017 (2017-08-27) –
present (present)

Strike (also known as C. B. Strike internationally) is a British crime drama television programme based on the book series Cormoran Strike by J. K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.[1] The programme was first broadcast on BBC One on 27 August 2017, after receiving an advance premiere at the British Film Institute on 10 August 2017.[2]

The programme follows Cormoran Strike (Tom Burke), a war veteran turned private detective operating out of a tiny office in London's Denmark Street, who uses his unique insight and his background as a Special Investigation Branch investigator to solve complex cases that have eluded the police along with his assistant, subsequently business partner, Robin Ellacott (Holliday Grainger).[3]

Fifteen episodes across five series have been broadcast to date, each series adapting the novels The Cuckoo's Calling (2013), The Silkworm (2014), Career of Evil (2015), Lethal White (2018), and Troubled Blood (2020), respectively.[4][5] A sixth series, based on The Ink Black Heart (2022), began shooting in February 2024.[6]

The programme premiered on 1 June 2018 in the United States on Cinemax and in Canada on HBO Canada.[7] Following the fourth series, the programme was exhibited in the United States on HBO.[8][9]

Cast and characters

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Main cast

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Recurring cast

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  • Kerr Logan as Matthew Cunliffe
  • Ben Crompton as "Shanker"
  • Natasha O'Keeffe as Charlotte Campbell
  • Killian Scott as DI Eric Wardle
  • Ann Akin as Vanessa Ekwensi
  • Sargon Yelda as DI Richard Anstis
  • Caitlin Innes Edwards as Ilsa Herbert
  • Jack Greenlees as Sam Barclay
  • Sarah Sweeney as Lucy

Guest cast

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S1: The Cuckoo's Calling

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S2: The Silkworm

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S3: Career of Evil

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S4: Lethal White

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S5: Troubled Blood

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S6: The Ink Black Heart

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Production and development

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On 10 December 2014, it was announced that the Cormoran Strike novel series, written by J. K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, would be adapted for television by the BBC, for broadcast on BBC One, beginning with The Cuckoo's Calling. Two years later, it was confirmed that the series would total seven episodes of sixty minutes, with shooting to begin in London in the autumn of 2016.[3] Tom Burke was announced in the role of Cormoran Strike in September 2016,[11] while Holliday Grainger was announced in the role of Robin Ellacott in November 2016.[12]

Ben Richards adapted The Cuckoo's Calling, and Tom Edge adapted The Silkworm, Career of Evil, Lethal White and Troubled Blood. Richards stated that the series is "very different tonally and visually from other crime dramas." He compared Strike to the British detective television show Morse. Similarly, Edge commented that "people use old-fashioned as a pejorative word, but to me that's part of why these books, and, I hope, the TV series, works so well."[13]

Episodes

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally airedAverage UK viewers
(millions)
First airedLast aired
1327 August 2017 (2017-08-27)3 September 2017 (2017-09-03)8.45
2210 September 2017 (2017-09-10)17 September 2017 (2017-09-17)8.35
3225 February 2018 (2018-02-25)4 March 2018 (2018-03-04)8.08
4430 August 2020 (2020-08-30)13 September 2020 (2020-09-13)7.82
5411 December 2022 (2022-12-11)19 December 2022 (2022-12-19)6.92

Series 1: The Cuckoo's Calling (2017)

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The Cuckoo's Calling was released on DVD on 27 November 2017.[14]

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [15]
11"The Cuckoo's Calling: Part 1"Michael KeillorBen Richards27 August 2017 (2017-08-27)8.89
22"The Cuckoo's Calling: Part 2"Michael KeillorBen Richards28 August 2017 (2017-08-28)8.28
33"The Cuckoo's Calling: Part 3"Michael KeillorBen Richards3 September 2017 (2017-09-03)8.18

Series 2: The Silkworm (2017)

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The Silkworm was released on DVD on 19 February 2018.[16]

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [15]
41"The Silkworm: Part 1"Kieron HawkesTom Edge10 September 2017 (2017-09-10)8.67
52"The Silkworm: Part 2"Kieron HawkesTom Edge17 September 2017 (2017-09-17)8.02

Series 3: Career of Evil (2018)

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Career of Evil was released on DVD on 16 April 2018.[17]

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [15]
61"Career of Evil: Part 1"Charles SturridgeTom Edge25 February 2018 (2018-02-25)8.43
72"Career of Evil: Part 2"Charles SturridgeTom Edge4 March 2018 (2018-03-04)7.72

Series 4: Lethal White (2020)

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Lethal White was released on DVD on 23 November 2020.[18]

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [19]
81"Lethal White: Part 1"Sue TullyTom Edge30 August 2020 (2020-08-30)8.61
92"Lethal White: Part 2"Sue TullyTom Edge31 August 2020 (2020-08-31)7.58
103"Lethal White: Part 3"Sue TullyTom Edge6 September 2020 (2020-09-06)7.85
114"Lethal White: Part 4"Sue TullyTom Edge13 September 2020 (2020-09-13)7.22

Series 5: Troubled Blood (2022)

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No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [19]
121"Troubled Blood: Part 1"Sue TullyTom Edge11 December 2022 (2022-12-11)8.07
132"Troubled Blood: Part 2"Sue TullyTom Edge12 December 2022 (2022-12-12)6.34
143"Troubled Blood: Part 3"Sue TullyTom Edge18 December 2022 (2022-12-18)6.86
154"Troubled Blood: Part 4"Sue TullyTom Edge19 December 2022 (2022-12-19)6.41

Reception

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The Cuckoo's Calling received generally positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of 85%, based on 20 reviews, and an average score of 6.8/10. The website's critics consensus reads "The TV adaptation of C. B. Strike delivers an entertaining detective series that faithfully and effectively adheres to genre tropes."[20] Morgan Jeffery of Digital Spy, who reviewed the first episode, praised both Burke and Grainger's performances, calling Burke's performance "a revelation".[21]

Similarly, the adaptation of The Silkworm was met with positive reviews, with critics again praising Burke and Grainger's performances.[22][23] However, the first episode was criticised for showing a suicide scene on World Suicide Prevention Day, making some viewers claim that this scene was insensitive.[24]

Career of Evil holds an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 8 reviews, and an average score of 7/10.[25]

Lethal White holds a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 reviews, and an average score of 5.6/10.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Sommers, Kat (November 2016). "First Look: Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger in 'Cormoran Strike'". BBC America. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Buy cinema tickets for TV Preview: Strike: The Cuckoo's Calling + discussion | BFI Southbank". whatson.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b Furness, Hannah (7 September 2016). "Confirmed: Tom Burke to play Cormoran Strike in BBC's JK Rowling dramas". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  4. ^ Griffiths, Emmy (29 November 2022). "BBC's hit crime show Strike confirms season 5 airdate - and it's sooner than you might think". Hello!. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Troubled Blood coming to BBC One this December". Robert Galbraith. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  6. ^ "JK Rowling's BBC Detective Series 'Strike' To Begin Season 6 Shoot This Month; HBO Back On Board". Deadline.com. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  7. ^ Anop, Nirat (9 October 2017). "Cinemax 2018 Programming Lineup". SpoilerTV.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  8. ^ "CB Strike (HBO)". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  9. ^ Roush, Matt (20 January 2021). "Worth Watching: Strike Is Back in 'Lethal White,' Inauguration Day & 'Celebrating America,' CW's Wednesday Returns". TV Insider. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger return in BBC's Strike - The Ink Black Heart". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Tom Burke to play JK Rowling's Cormoran Strike on BBC One". BBC News. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Holliday Grainger joins Tom Burke for major BBC One drama". BBC Media Centre. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  13. ^ Hughes, Sarah (13 August 2017). "Witty, not gritty: JK Rowling's gentle TV detective is a return to the era of Morse". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Strike: The Cuckoos Calling". 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2018 – via Amazon.
  15. ^ a b c "Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2017. (User must select "BBC1" in the Channel field and then select the appropriate year, month and week to retrieve the figure for each episode)
  16. ^ "Strike: The Silkworm". 19 February 2018. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2018 – via Amazon.
  17. ^ "Strike: Career Of Evil". 16 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2018 – via Amazon.
  18. ^ "Strike: Lethal White". Amazon UK.
  19. ^ a b Weekly top programmes on four screens (from Sept 2018) Archived 2 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine at barb.co.uk
  20. ^ "C.B. Strike: The Cuckoo's Calling". Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2019 – via Rotten Tomatoes.
  21. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (27 August 2017). "Strike - 'The Cuckoo's Calling' episode 1 review: This could be the next great detective drama". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  22. ^ Power, Ed (11 September 2017). "Strike – The Silkworm, part one, review – an entertaining and disturbing peek into the darker side of JK Rowling's imagination". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  23. ^ Wollaston, Sam (11 September 2017). "Strike: The Silkworm review – necrophilia, cannibalism and literary London". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  24. ^ Fleming, Molly (11 September 2017). "Strike the Silkworm shows intense suicide scene on World Suicide Prevention Day". Metro. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  25. ^ "C.B. Strike: Career of Evil". Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2019 – via Rotten Tomatoes.
  26. ^ "C.B. Strike: Lethal White". Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020 – via Rotten Tomatoes.
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