The Long Call: Full cast list for the ITV drama and what it's about

A new ITV drama based on a book by Ann Cleeves - the author of popular detective drama Vera - is airing on ITV and will explore not only an impossible murder case but also the turbulent background of the main detective.

Based and partly filmed in North Devon, The Long Call will star Ben Aldridge as the lead character, Detective Inspector Matthew Venn, as viewers follow his emotional story.

The Long Call will start on Monday, October 25 at 9pm and air every night until Thursday, October 28 on ITV.

Matthew is back in his fictional hometown of Barum Brethren, which he left when he was 19 when he knew he was gay and was not accepted by the deeply religious community.

Since then Matthew has not returned, estranged from his family and living happily with his husband Jonathan Venn in Bristol.

Now, however, he is back, as his father is dying and alongside dealing with returning to Devon he is also leading a shocking murder investigation of a newcomer to the town, Simon Walden.

As Matthew investigates he is drawn further and further into the dark workings of the town and forced to confront his past in a place he is still not accepted for his sexuality or his life.

Our Girl and Fleabag star Ben Alridge is playing Detective Inspector Matthew Venn as he confronts his own demons at being back in a place where he is not accepted and trying to solve an intense murder case.

Ben has starred in American TV series Pennyworth as Thomas Wayne and is also gay, like his character Matthew in The Long Call.

While talking about playing a gay character Ben said: “Often gay relationships on screen are depicted as tormented or focus on hypersexuality, and there’s absolutely a place for that, but Jonathan and Matthew’s relationship is the certainty in this piece, which is rare in TV drama.

“I know Declan, Lee, and myself all felt a responsibility to portray these men and this relationship as authentically as possible, to see a version of what we know ourselves represented on screen and it’s exciting to be bringing that to a mainstream ITV audience."

Playing Matthew's loving and accepting husband Jonathan Venn is Declan Bennett who has previously starred in EastEnders and performed on the West End in the musical Once.

Declan also has a successful music career as a member of the pop-rock band Point Break, then as a solo artist under the name Sumladfromcov and now releasing music under his own name.

Taking the role of Matthew's estranged mother Dorothy Venn is Julia Stevenson who has an extensive and impressive acting career both on and off stage.

Julia is best known for her roles in Truly, Madly, Deeply, and Bend It Like Beckham, she has also appeared in the TV series Atlantis and performed on stage in Hamlet and The Tempest to name just two.

Jen Rafferty is another detective on the case and is also battling personal issues as she fled with her children to Devon, escaping her abusive partner.

Jen is played by Pearl Mackie who starred as Bill Potts in Doctor Who. She has also starred in Doctors and in the National Theatre's West End production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.

The leader of the church in Barum Brethren is Dennis Stephenson, played by Martin Shaw, and although coming across as the perfect preacher he has a dark side.

Many will recognise Shaw as Inspector George Gently or Judge John Deed. He has also previously played Sir Henry Baskerville in an adaptation of The Hounds of the Baskervilles.

Wife to Dennis, viewers will watch as Grace Stephenson, played by Anita Dobson, suffers in her controlling marriage.

Another former EastEnders star, Anita famously played Angie Watts for three years and she also appeared in Casualty and Holby City. The actress is married to Queen's frontman Brian May

Caught up in the murder investigation as he tries to protect his daughter is Christopher Reasley, played by Neil Morrissey.

Starring in Waterloo Road as Deputy Head Eddie Lawson, Morrissey has also had recent roles in the hit BBC dramas Line of Duty and The Syndicate.

Resisting her father's attempts to build a relationship, Caroline Reasley is still struggling to overcome her own injuries and trauma from the car crash that killed her mother.

Playing Caroline is Siobhan Cullen who has previously starred in the 2018 TV series Origin and the 2016 film The Limehouse Golem.

Secret girlfriend to the dead man, Simon Walden, Gaby Chadwell is pregnant with his baby when he is murdered, leaving her unsure how to live the rest of her life.

Taking the role of Gaby is Aofie Hinds who has starred in the BBC Three hit series Normal People, where she played Helen, and Derry Girls where she played Mae Chung.

Boyfriend to Caroline is Ed Raveley who also escaped to Devon after he packed up his life as a corporate accountant.

Ed is played by Amit Shah who has starred on TV in Hospital People, Crashing and The Witcher and in the films Johnny English Strikes Again and Last Christmas.

The junior detective on the case is DC Ross Pritchard who is a Devon town boy through and through.

Dylan Edwards, who was born in Devon and trained to be an actor in Cardiff at the Royal nWelsh College of Music and Drama, is playing DC Ross and previously he has starred in GameFace and Wanderlust.

The Long Call will start on Monday, October 25 at 9pm and air every night until Thursday, October 28 on ITV.

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