Val McDermid’s books are dark. They aren’t just "rainy day in England" dark; they are visceral, psychological, and occasionally hard to stomach. When ITV decided to bring Tony Hill and Carol Jordan to the screen in 2002, they could have easily sanitized it for a mass audience. They didn’t. Instead, they leaned into the grit, and the primary reason the show worked for six seasons wasn't just the writing—it was the chemistry of the wire in the blood cast.
Most people remember Robson Green. He was already a household name in the UK thanks to Soldier Soldier and a somewhat improbable music career with Jerome Flynn. But Wire in the Blood was a pivot. It stripped away the "cheeky chappy" persona and replaced it with a man who looked like he hadn't slept since the late nineties. Tony Hill, as played by Green, was an eccentric clinical psychologist who felt the pain of victims a bit too much. It was a masterclass in twitchy, internalized acting.
The show was more than just Green's nervous energy. It was a balance of professional police work and the fringe science of profiling, which, at the time, felt fresh and dangerous.
Robson Green and the Burden of Tony Hill
Green wasn't just the lead actor; he was the soul of the production. His portrayal of Tony Hill remains one of the most underrated performances in 21st-century television. Hill wasn't a superhero. He carried a blue plastic bag. He bumped into things. He was socially awkward in a way that felt authentic, not "TV quirky."
When you look at the wire in the blood cast across its 24 episodes, Green is the constant, but his performance evolved. In the early series, he’s more frantic. By Series 6, there’s a weary resignation to his movements. He’s seen too many bodies in the Bradfield canal. Green’s ability to communicate Hill's empathy—and the toll that empathy took on his psyche—is what kept viewers coming back even when the plots became increasingly macabre.
👉 See also: America's Got Talent Transformation: Why the Show Looks So Different in 2026
The Hermione Norris Era: Carol Jordan’s Grit
For many fans, the definitive era of the show involves Hermione Norris as DCI Carol Jordan. The dynamic between Hill and Jordan was the engine of the first three series. Norris brought a cold, sharp intelligence to the role that perfectly countered Green's softness.
They had "the thing." You know the one. That unspoken, high-tension romantic subtext that never quite boils over into a standard TV romance because both characters are too damaged to handle it. Norris played Jordan as a woman constantly fighting for respect in a male-dominated CID while simultaneously acting as the only person who truly "got" Tony.
When Norris left after Series 3, it felt like a blow. It changed the DNA of the show. Her departure wasn't due to drama; she simply felt the character had reached a natural conclusion and moved on to Spooks (another legendary bit of British TV). But for those first few years, the wire in the blood cast was anchored by that specific duo, making the show feel more like a character study than a police procedural.
Simone Lahbib and the Rebirth of the Team
Replacing a lead is a nightmare for any showrunner. Ask anyone who watched The X-Files after Duchovny left. However, the introduction of Simone Lahbib as DI Alex Fielding in Series 4 actually worked. Lahbib didn't try to be Hermione Norris. She brought a different energy—more grounded, perhaps a bit more skeptical of Tony’s "voodoo" profiling at first.
✨ Don't miss: All I Watch for Christmas: What You’re Missing About the TBS Holiday Tradition
Fielding was a single mother, which added a layer of domestic reality that was missing from the earlier seasons. It raised the stakes. When Alex was in danger, it felt different because we knew there was a kid at home. The transition between the Norris years and the Lahbib years is a fascinating case study in how a cast can pivot without losing its identity.
The Supporting Players: Bradfield’s Finest
We can't talk about the wire in the blood cast without mentioning the detectives in the bullpen. These were the characters who did the legwork while Tony was staring at crime scene photos in a darkened room.
- Mark Letheren as DS Kevin Geoffries: He was the backbone of the CID. Letheren played Kevin with a mix of loyalty and occasional frustration that felt very "real world cop."
- Emma Handy as DC Paula Reed: She grew significantly over the course of the series, moving from a background player to a vital part of the investigative unit.
- Tom Chadbon as DCS Russell Davis: The classic "boss" figure who had to balance political pressure with Tony's unorthodox methods.
These actors provided the "blood" in the show's title. They made Bradfield feel like a real place with a real police force, rather than just a stage for Tony Hill’s genius.
Why the Casting Worked Where Others Failed
Most crime shows of the early 2000s relied on a "gimmick." Wire in the Blood relied on atmosphere. The casting directors—primarily Gail Stevens and her team—had an incredible eye for guest stars. Before they were massive names, you could spot actors like Nicola Walker, Peter Capaldi, and even a young Liam Cunningham popping up in guest spots.
🔗 Read more: Al Pacino Angels in America: Why His Roy Cohn Still Terrifies Us
The show stayed away from "glamour." Everyone looked a bit grey. The lighting was often harsh or non-existent. The cast looked like people who worked long shifts and drank too much coffee. That authenticity is why it's still being discovered on streaming platforms today. It doesn't feel like a period piece; it feels like a nightmare you can't quite shake off.
The Evolution of the Crime Genre
Honestly, the wire in the blood cast paved the way for the "broken detective" trope that became so prevalent in the 2010s. Without Tony Hill, do we get Luther? Do we get the specific brand of brooding we see in Broadchurch? Probably not. Tony was the blueprint for the empathetic investigator who loses a piece of himself with every case.
The show ended in 2008, reportedly because it was becoming too expensive to produce. It was a shame. The chemistry between Green and Lahbib was peaking, and the stories were getting even more experimental. But looking back, maybe six seasons was the sweet spot. It never stayed long enough to become a parody of itself.
How to Revisit the Series Today
If you’re looking to dive back into the world of Tony Hill, don't just jump in at random. Start from the beginning. See how the relationship between Hill and Jordan builds. Watch the way Robson Green handles the "Mermaids Singing" storyline—it’s harrowing.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Streaming Rights: In many regions, the show is currently available on platforms like BritBox or Acorn TV. It’s been remastered, so the graininess is intentional, not a technical error.
- Read the Source Material: If you love the show, Val McDermid’s Tony Hill & Carol Jordan series is essential. The books are even darker than the show, and they provide a lot more internal monologue for Tony that helps explain Green's acting choices.
- Watch the Pilot: The pilot episode, "The Mermaids Singing," is a perfect distillation of what made the wire in the blood cast special. It sets the tone immediately.
- Look for the "Special" Episode: Don't miss "Prayer of the Bone," the 2008 special set in Texas. It's a weird, fish-out-of-water story that shows how well the Tony Hill character works even outside of his rainy English element.
The show remains a high-water mark for British television. It wasn't just about the murders; it was about the cost of solving them. That weight was carried entirely by a cast that knew exactly how to play the shadows.