New Tricks, the BBC1 drama about a group of old coppers solving cold cases, is coming to an end after 12 series.


The BBC has confirmed that the series due to air this summer will be the last to make way for new dramas.

BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore and Ben Stephenson, the BBC’s controller of drama commissioning, said in a joint statement: “We are incredibly proud of New Tricks and would like to thank Roy Mitchell the brilliant creator, [production companies] Wall to Wall and Headstrong, and all the cast and teams involved across the 12 series.

“However, on BBC1 it’s important to make room for new series and continue to increase the range of drama on the channel, so it won’t be returning after the next series airs this summer”.

The drama was launched in 2003 as a one-off that went on to become a hugely successful series and one of the BBC’s highest-rated dramas, averaging six million viewers per episode.

Originally it starred Amanda Redman in charge of a line-up of superannuated former cops played by Dennis Waterman, James Bolam and Alun Armstrong. Waterman is the only cast member who still remains and recently revealed that the upcoming series would be his last as copper Gerry Standing.

In recent series, the team of cold-case crimesolvers has consisted of Tamzin Outhwaite, Denis Lawson and Nicholas Lyndhurst alongside Waterman. EastEnders and Gavin & Stacey star Larry Lamb is due to join the drama for the final series.


The BBC promise that the final episodes will see the drama “go out on a high”.