STEPHEN MANGAN RETURNS TO BBC-4 AS DIRK GENTLY

One of Douglas Adams’ best loved characters finally made his TV debut in December 2010 with Stephen Mangan tackling the role of Dirk Gently – Holistic Detective.

The one hour scifi tinged production was one of the best performing BBC-4 shows of the year. No surprises then that the beeb were happy to commit to a series – albeit a short run of three episodes.

Dirk has some unusual investigative methods believing whole heartedly in The Fundamental Interconnectedness of All Things’, trying to keep him in check though is business partner Richard Macduff (played by Darren Boyd).

In Episode 1 of the new three-part series, Dirk discovers the connection between two unrelated cases; a client who believes the Pentagon are trying to kill him and another who’s horoscopes appear to be coming true. In Episode 2 Dirk is called back to his old university to protect a valuable robot but within 24 hours it has been stolen and a dead body discovered, with Dirk & Macduff the prime suspect. In Episode 3 they are alarmed to discover that Dirk’s old clients are-  being randomly murdered with Dirk as the only link. Rather than talk to the police, Dirk elects to leave the country but is waylaid by a series of seemingly unconnected events.

Created by one of Britain’s most exciting screenwriting talents, Howard Overman (Misfits), from the books by Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently is a dramatic, witty and intelligent series with plots that delight, surprise but ultimately satisfy – and with two characters at the heart of each story that you just want to spend time with, brilliantly portrayed by Stephen Mangan and Darren Boyd.

The series also boasts a sensational cast of regulars returning from the pilot – Helen Baxendale as Macduff’s girlfriend Susan in Episode 2, Jason Watkins as Det. Insp Gilks in Eps 1 and 3 with Lisa Jackson returning as the unpaid, unloved and quite deeply disturbed receptionist Janice Pearce across the series.

Stephen Mangan says: “Slipping back into Dirk’s pointy shoes to renew my double act with Darren Boyd for three brand new episodes is, for me, about as good as it gets. I wish I WAS Dirk.”