What is BBC crime drama The Turkish Detective about & what roles do Haluk Bilginer, Ethan Kai & Yasemin Kay Allen play?
BBC’s eight-part crime drama The Turkish Detective is adapted from Barbara Nadel’s novels about Inspector Ikmen and his adventures.
Here is everything you need to know about this crime series.
What is The Turkish Detective about?
The Turkish Detective follows Inspector Çetin Ikmen, Detective Mehmet Süleyman and Detective Ayşe Farsakoğlu as they navigate the challenges of solving crimes in Istanbul.
Each episode delves into intricate cases deeply rooted in the city.
Who stars in The Turkish Detective?
Haluk Bilginer
Haluk Bilginer is playing Inspector Çetin Ikmen.
He has starred in a wide range of productions across theatre, film, and television
Fans of EastEnders might remember him as Mehmet Osman.
Haluk won the the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival for his movie Winter Sleep.
From the moment I opened Barbara Nadel’s novel, I fell in love with the unique, iconic character of Inspector Ikmen.
Ben Schiffer, Writer and Executive Producer
Ethan Kai
Ethan Kai stars as Detective Mehmet Süleyman in the show.
He is known for his roles in Killing Eve and Emmerdale.
Ethan also starred in Carnival Row, London Kills, Doctors and Mount Pleasant.
Yasemin Kay Allen
Yasemin Kay Allen plays Detective Ayşe Farsakoğlu.
She is an English-Turkish actress and is known for her work in the Turkish TV show Elif and as Elena in the Turkish version of Dawson’s Creek.
Erol Afsin
Erol Afsin is playing Tarik Sanver.
He is an actor, writer, director, and producer, known for Homeland, Saf and Mustang.
Erol also appeared in various German TV shows such as SOKO Potsdam, Tatort and Wir.
Uygar Tamer
Ugyar Tamer plays Fatma Ikmen.
She is known for Quantum of Solace, Mitten in Deutschland: NSU (2016) and The Teachers’ Lounge.
Other cast members include:
- Deniz Ülkü as Cicek Imen
- Dilan Gwyn as Leyla Pamuk
- Selma Ergeç as Selma Payidar
- Faith Al as Ziver Bucar
- Diyae Bozkurt as Izzet Melik
- Rüzgar Diricanli as Bekir Ikmen
- Ferit Ozmenoglu as Yusuf Ikmen
- Murat Seven as Abdel Zahle
- Ruhi Sari as Emir
- Yilmaz Gruda as Timur Ikmen
- Lila Gürmen as Hulya
- Nader Abd Alhay as Kemal Hadad
Where is The Turkish Detective filmed?
The Turkish Detective was filmed in Istanbul, Turkey.
The show is based on the novels by Barbara Nadel and was produced by streaming platform Paramount+.
What has the writer and executive producer said about The Turkish Detective?
Ben Schiffer, writer and executive producer of the show, said: “From the moment I opened Barbara Nadel’s novel, I fell in love with the unique, iconic character of Inspector Ikmen.
“A beacon of hope and humour in a dark, difficult world, I’m so delighted that he and our show, a blend of emotionally-charged mystery and family drama, has found a home at the BBC.”
Sue Deeks, head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: “Not only does The Turkish Detective provide a compelling, multi-layered crime thriller, but is set in stunning Istanbul, a vibrant contemporary city that also reflects the cultural influences of a rich and varied historical past – it’s a truly fascinating combination.”
How to watch The Turkish Detective
The Turkish Detective starts on BBC Two at 9 pm on Sunday, July 7, 2024, with episode two airing on Monday, July 8, 2024 at 9 pm.
Episodes will then come out every Sunday and Monday.
The show will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.