Sharon Rooney and Emmett J. Scanlan lead 5's new thriller An Impossible Way to Die

An unpredictable crime drama exploring themes of identity, protection, power and corruption.

5 has announced a new six-part thriller, An Impossible Way to Die, starring Sharon Rooney and Emmett J. Scanlan, described as a character-driven, unpredictable crime drama exploring themes of identity, protection, power and corruption.

An Impossible Way to Die sees a detective’s quiet local policing life upended when she’s thrust into a high-pressure investigation into a mysterious murder.

Sharon Rooney plays DS Katie Salter, who is happily solving everyday crimes until fate drags her into an impossible murder mystery. Four people sat around a table seemingly set for a dinner party, except they are all dead. The only clue is a scorpion crawling out of one of the victim’s mouths.

Salter is not your stereotypical damaged and tormented TV detective; she's smart, diligent and committed to her family. Tensions quickly surface when Salter is partnered with DI Niall Conway, played by Emmett J. Scanlan, who is the lead investigator on the case.

Salter’s measured, grounded approach clashes with Conway’s all-consuming dedication to the job. At first, the two detectives appear fundamentally incompatible. Yet, as the investigation deepens and the pressure intensifies, Conway begins to recognise the value of Salter's empathy, optimism, and instinctive understanding of people.

As the case grows increasingly impossible, secrets are unearthed, and conspiracies emerge, lives are put at risk as the detectives race against time to connect seemingly disparate cases and unmask a killer before it’s too late.

Other cast members include Lois Chimimba, Jonny Lavelle and Ashley McGuire.

Speaking about An Impossible Way to Die, 5's Deputy Chief Content Officer, Sebastian Cardwell, said "An Impossible Way to Die is exactly the kind of distinctive, compelling drama we want to bring to 5 audiences. Casting Sharon Rooney as a detective was the genesis of this thriller, and she brings something fresh and compelling to DS Katie Salter. With its brilliant premise, bold take on the detective genre, fantastic cast and Clapperboard’s flair for character-driven drama, we’re hugely excited to see the series come to life."

To which Clapperboard Studios' Mike Benson added "We’re delighted to be working again with two of the finest performers out there in Sharon and Emmett, alongside our fantastic cast and talented production team led by Adam and Amber. The scripts are really quite special - gripping, witty and insidious - and alongside our partners 5 and DCD we can’t wait to introduce the world to DS Salter who avoids all the tropes we’ve seen in television detectives down the years."

Made by Clapperboard Studios, An Impossible Way to Die is written by newcomers Robin Ganderton and Rowena Johnson, who have penned episodes one and five, Ciara Conway, who has written episodes two and six, Jillian Mannion, who has written episode three, and David Persiva, who has written episode four.

The series is directed by Adam Wimpenny, produced by Amber Howorth and executive produced by Mike Benson and Myf Hopkins for Clapperboard Studios,

An Impossible Way to Die will air in 2027 on 5