Dalziel & Pascoe: Dialogues of the Dead sees a return of this police series which has become a hit around the world with its stylish combination of multi-layered murder mysteries, strong characters, humour and warmth.

Warren Clarke is the witty, down-to-earth Andy Dalziel and Colin Buchanan is his university-educated sidekick DI Peter Pascoe. The two charismatic coppers take on their most puzzling and challenging case to date - and nearly lose - in a two-part special that finds them struggling to track down a serial killer with a penchant for words. Sublimely confident, the killer leaves a “dialogue” for the police to find after each murder.

Dalziel & Pascoe: Dialogues of the Dead can be seen on BBC Prime from Mondays to Fridays at 20h00 (repeated at 23h00) from February 8.

From February 12, the 8th and 9th series of Dalziel & Pascoe will be screened at the same times. Andy Dalziel is back in the rudest of health and the coarsest of wit, as he and Inspector Pascoe tackle four more intriguing murder mysteries in the beautiful countryside and towns of Yorkshire.

Cases include a complex investigation involving an escaped wife-murderer, secret affairs, hidden bodies and illegitimate children; and the death of a wealthy factory owner, blamed by his family on his Russian fiancée.