CRIME TEAM
What is BBC crime drama The Turkish Detective about & what roles do Haluk Bilginer, Ethan Kai & Yasemin Kay Allen play?
Plus what the show creator said about working with the BBC
BBC crime drama The Turkish Detective has been adapted from Barbara Nadel's novels about Inspector Ikmen and his adventures.
The eight part series features complex characters and compelling mysteries all in a vibrant film location.
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What is The Turkish Detective about?
Barabara Ikmen introduced readers to DI Ikmen in 1999.
There are 25 books in the series, beginning with Belshazzar's Daughter.
Now the books have been brought to life, in an eight-part series.
The Turkish Detective follows Inspector Çetin Ikmen, Detective Mehmet Süleyman and Detective Ayşe Farsakoğlu as they navigate the challenges of solving crimes in Istanbul.
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Each episode delves into intricate cases deeply rooted in the city.
Who stars in The Turkish Detective?
Haluk Bilginer
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Haluk Bilginer plays the lead role of Inspector Çetin Ikmen.
The actor was born on June 5, 1954, and has starred in a wide range of productions across theatre, film, and television.
Fans of EastEnders might remember him as Mehmet Osman.
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He appeared in the BBC soap from 1985 until 1989.
Haluk won the the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival for his 2014 movie Winter Sleep.
He's also starred in Halloween 2018, and Maria, alongside Angelina Jolie.
Ethan Kai
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Born on January 13, 2004, Ethan Kai stars as Detective Mehmet Süleyman in the show.
He is known for his roles as Tony in Killing Eve and as Kasim Sabet in Emmerdale.
Ethan also starred in Carnival Row, London Kills, Doctors and Mount Pleasant.
Yasemin Kay Allen
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English-Turkish actress Yasemin Kay Allen was born on July 10, 1989, in London.
She plays Detective Ayşe Farsakoğlu in True Detective.
She is known for her work in the Turkish TV show Elif and as Elena in the Turkish version of Dawson's Creek.
She starred in TV series The Usual Suspects in 2021.
Erol Afsin
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Erol Afsin stars as Tarik Sanver in The Turkish Detective.
Born on August 29, 1989, 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
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Uygar Tamer plays the wife of Detective Ikmen, Fatma.
She was born on May 8, 1971, in Ankara, Turkey.
Uygar has appeared in Bond movie Quantum Of Solace, as well as Omar And Us, and The Teachers' Lounge.
Dilan Gwyn
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Dilan Gwyn stars as Leyla Pamuk in The Turkish Detective.
She is a Swedish actress with Turkish roots born on June 4, 1987.
From 2016-2018 she played Willa in TV series Beyond, and she's also known for Amazon Prime's Two Sisters.
Murat Seven
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Murat Seven stars as Abdel Zahle.
The actor, who was born in 1980 in Berlin, Germany, has worked in both Turkish and German productions.
He's starred in Tatort, Soko Köln, When We Leave, and Lasko.
Selma Ergeç
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Selma Ergeç stars as Selma Payidar.
The actress was born on November 1, 1978, in Hamm, Germany.
She is best known for her role as Sultan Kösem in the Turkish TV series Magnificent Century, which became widely popular both in Turkey and internationally.
Apart from Magnificent Century, Selma has appeared in various other Turkish TV series and films.
Yilmaz Gruda
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Yilmaz Gruda portrays Timur Ikmen, Çetin's father.
He has been active in the Turkish entertainment industry since the 1940s, appearing in numerous movies and TV shows.
As well as an actor, Yilmaz was a poet and playwright.
He was born on July 14, 1930, and died on July 25, 2023, at the age of 93 in Istanbul.
Filming for the series wrapped in 2022.
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
Other cast members include:
- Deniz Ülkü as Cicek Imen
- Faith Al as Ziver Bucar
- Diyae Bozkurt as Izzet Melik
- Rüzgar Diricanli as Bekir Ikmen
- Ferit Ozmenoglu as Yusuf Ikmen
- Ruhi Sari as Emir
- Lila Gürmen as Hulya
- Nader Abd Alhay as Kemal Hadad
Where is The Turkish Detective filmed?
The Turkish Detective was filmed in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2022.
The show is based on the novels by Barbara Nadel who acted as a consultant on the series.
It was produced by streaming platform Paramount+.
What has the writer and executive producer said about The Turkish Detective?
Writer and executive producer of the show Ben Schiffer 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, said: “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 9pm on Sunday, July 7, 2024, with episode two airing on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 9pm.
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Episodes will then come out every Sunday and Monday.
The show will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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