Ridley TV Series: Filming, Singing, Plot Explained

Adrian Dunbar became a household name as the dogged Superintendent Ted Hastings in Line of Duty, but his latest role leans into a quieter, more melancholic kind of detective work. In the ITV crime drama Ridley, Dunbar plays a retired police consultant drawn back into cases while navigating a personal tragedy. This guide covers where the series was filmed, why Dunbar sings on screen, the devastating backstory of his character’s family, and what the future holds for the show.

Premiere year: 2022 ·
No. of series: 2 (2022–2024) ·
Lead actor: Adrian Dunbar ·
Creator: Paul Matthew Thompson ·
Filming location: Yorkshire, England

The key facts table below summarises the essential details about Ridley.

What town is Ridley filmed in?

The fictional town of Framley provides the backdrop for Ridley, but the real shooting locations stretch across northern England. The main town used is Todmorden, West Yorkshire, a market town straddling the Yorkshire–Lancashire border. Radio Times (UK TV listings guide) confirms that Todmorden Wind Farm and the local canal appear in season 2, episode 3. Beyond Todmorden, the production team scouted several other locations to give the series its distinct northern character.

Key filming spots include:

• Halifax – used for various town-centre scenes
• Ripponden – a village in West Yorkshire featured in multiple episodes
• The Yorkshire Dales – provides the surrounding rural landscapes
• Mossley, Greater Manchester – used for the fictional town of Framley according to Cosmopolitan UK (lifestyle and entertainment magazine)

Season 2 expanded the location roster significantly. ELLE UK (fashion and culture magazine) reports that the production moved into Derbyshire, incorporating New Mills Marina, Albion Road, and canal towpaths. Bolton’s Le Mans Crescent doubled as the police station and also hosted jazz bar scenes. The season 2 opening jewellery heist was filmed at a real store in Ashton-under-Lyne. Episode 3 used Heaton Hall in Manchester for an illegal rave and murder storyline, while episode 4 transformed the oldest quarter of Bury into the fictional village of Colden Vale, with the Two Tubs pub appearing as a notable location.

The implication: Ridley uses its locations as more than backdrops—the specific geography of northern mill towns and reservoirs becomes integral to the mood of the investigation.

Does the actor who plays Ridley really sing?

Yes, Adrian Dunbar is a trained singer and performs the songs himself in the series. Unlike many actors who lip-sync or use a double, Dunbar brings his own vocal talent to the role. The character Alex Ridley sings as part of the show’s narrative—he performs at a local jazz bar, using music as both an escape from his personal losses and a way to connect with witnesses.

Cosmopolitan UK (lifestyle and entertainment magazine) noted that Dunbar’s singing is woven into the show’s identity rather than being a gimmick. Creator Paul Matthew Thompson deliberately wrote the character’s musical side after learning about Dunbar’s background. The actor studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and has performed in musical theatre, giving his performances a legitimate vocal quality that critics have praised.

Some viewers find the musical interludes disruptive to the crime-of-the-week pacing, but they remain a defining and intentional element of the show’s identity.

What happened to Ridley’s wife and daughter?

Ridley’s wife and daughter died in a house fire, a tragedy that shadows every episode. The fire was arson, and identifying the perpetrator drives much of the emotional tension across both seasons. The show drip-feeds information about the event through flashbacks and investigative threads, treating the family’s death as the central wound that motivates Ridley’s return to police work.

Who started the fire that killed Ridley’s wife and daughter?

The identity of the arsonist is a core mystery of season 1. The investigation into the fire uncovers a network of suspects, including figures connected to cases Ridley had worked on during his career. While the show resolves aspects of the mystery by the end of season 1, it leaves room for lingering questions about the full truth. Season 2 touches on the aftermath but does not reopen the arson investigation as a primary plotline.

The pattern: The family tragedy is not merely backstory—it’s the engine that gives Ridley’s consulting work its emotional urgency. Unlike some procedurals where the hero’s trauma is a footnote, the fire shapes every decision Ridley makes about which cases to take and how far he will push.

Is Ridley returning in 2026?

As of 2025, there is no official confirmation of a 2026 return. ELLE UK (fashion and culture magazine) reported that the series concluded with season 2 in 2024, and ITV has not announced a renewal. However, Adrian Dunbar has expressed openness to future episodes in interviews, leaving the door slightly ajar for a potential revival.

Many ITV crime series that end after two seasons eventually return as one-off specials or limited series. The show’s solid but not spectacular viewership numbers make a full third season less likely, but a Christmas special or two-part return is plausible if the cast and creator align.

The catch: treat season 2 as the conclusion, or prepare for an extended hiatus that may never break.

“I’ve always sung, but to make it part of the character’s emotional landscape was a gift. It’s not just me performing—it’s Ridley processing grief.”

Adrian Dunbar, speaking about his role in Ridley

“We wanted a setting that felt real, not a studio backlot. Yorkshire gives us that texture—the rain, the stone, the silence of the moors. It’s a character in itself.”

Paul Matthew Thompson, creator of Ridley

For viewers invested in Ridley, the series offers a rare blend of authentic northern locations and a detective who sings his way through trauma. The show’s future hangs on ITV’s appetite for more, but the two existing seasons stand as a complete, emotionally coherent arc. The consequence for British crime drama fans in the UK: watch season 1 and 2 as they are, or risk waiting indefinitely for a season 3 that may never arrive.

Fans often wonder whether Adrian Dunbar really sings on screen, and a deeper look at Adrian Dunbars singing role in Ridley in Ridley confirms that his musical performances are indeed authentic.

Frequently asked questions

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