Cops 'n' Robbie for new TV show.

CRACKER star Robbie Coltrane is to star in a new police drama for ITV.

The Scot, who played criminal psychologist Fitz in the awardwinning series, will play detective Gordon Hain in thriller Murderland.

Written by David Pirie, who penned Murder Rooms and Woman In White, Murderland tells a traumatic story through the eyes of three central characters.

They are Carrie, the daughter of the murdered woman, Hain, who is in charge of the case, and Sally, the murder victim.

It is described as a "knife-edge thriller of revenge, redemption and rough justice, where three different perspectives eventually piece together the truth".

The drama in three 60-minute parts will see Robbie, 59, play his grittiest role since that of Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald.

Laura Mackie, director of ITV Commissioning, said: "Following the success of ITV1's Monday night thriller season, we're delighted to have Murderland.

"It's also a great coup to have Robbie Coltrane return to ITV1 in the role of Gordon Hain." Murderland is produced by Kate Croft and Dave Edwards for Touchpaper Scotland and will be filmed on location during June.

Since Cracker, Coltrane has become a star worldwide through his role as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

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HIT: Robbie as Cracker