The 'Virdee' Trailer Introduces a New Detective to Bradford

The Industrial Revolution in Western culture was the death knell for a way of life that involved one’s extended family in the U.S., the U.K., and other European countries focused on advancing technology. But that culture is still alive and well, especially in South Asian communities. The expansion of British and American television highlights more diverse storytelling. The “family-oriented” way of life has become more prominent in mainstream culture, with shows like Ms. Marvel and Blue Beetle involving parents, siblings, and grandparents in the hero collective. Now that culture will be highlighted again in Virdee, the BBC’s first almost-all-South Asian-starring detective series.

Based on the best-selling series of crime novels by A.A. Dhand, whose titular detective, DI Harry Virdee (Staz Nair), is a British English Sikh investigator who lives and works in Bradford. Nair landed the role after original star Sacha Dhawan had to exit the series; he describes it as “a beautiful blend of genres. It’s the first time I’ve seen a series combining a crime thriller with a family drama and a heightened/Gotham-esque storyline about gangland politics. I think it’s an exciting and adventurous way to tell the story." 

The family angle isn’t just due to how tight-knit South Asian communities can be in Western countries; it also delves into the religion and politics of the community via Virdee’s marriage to the love of his life. His wife, Saima, is Muslim, a fact that has caused most of his devout Sikh family to cut him off. It’s not a story one sees on the BBC very often (or on American TV much at all), and one of the many reasons the series is worth tuning into.

Here's the series synopsis:

A turf war is brewing in the underbelly of the city, with the police losing its grip on gang rivalries as they spill out onto the streets of Bradford. When a young dealer is murdered, Harry’s duty to uphold the law clashes with his links to members of the crime gangs. With his personal life in chaos, he must hunt down whoever is targeting those around him. Whilst the killer holds the entire city to ransom, Harry realizes that he is going to need the help of his brother-in-law Riaz, a drugs kingpin who runs the largest cartel in the county. Pulled together in an alliance that could ruin them both, Harry must choose to save himself and his family or his city. He will not be able to do both.

Nair is joined by Aysha Kala (Indian Summers), Vikash Bhai (Crossfire), Kulvinder Ghir (Foundation), Sudha Bhuchar (Ridley), Nina Singh (The Lazarus Project), Manjinder Virk (Trigger Point), Danyal Ismail (The Outrun), and Elizabeth Berrington (Good Omens) The supporting cast includes Tomi May (Joan), Andi Jashy (Gangs of London), Hussina Raja (A Discovery of Witches), Yousef Naseer (Ackley Bridge), Nichola Burley (Death Comes to Pemberley), Javed Khan (Everything I Know About Love), Ramon Tikaram (Renegade Nell), Akshay Kumar (Gold), and Madiha Ansari (Home Sick). 

Dhand penned all six episodes of the show's inaugural season. Directors Mark Tonderai, Milad Alami, and Mo Ali shared helming duties, and Stella Nwimo and Himesh Kar produced. Dhand executive produced the series, along with Paul Trijbits for Magical Society and Jo McClellan for the BBC. 

Virdee continues to be without an American distributor, a distressing state of affairs. The series will debut on the BBC and Player on Monday, February 10, 2025.