Death in Paradise star lands new role in major career announcement after series exit

Peter Davison, recognised for his roles in Beyond Paradise and Death in Paradise, has landed a part in the forthcoming BBC drama Riot Women. Peter's recent stint in Beyond Paradise was short-lived, with his character, Richard Baxter, being revealed as married, resulting in a quick departure.

He also featured in Death in Paradise, where he played a red herring alongside Kris Marshall.

Peter is set to join an impressive cast in Riot Women, a series written by Sally Wainwright, the creative force behind Happy Valley. The main cast of the show includes Joanna Scanlan as Beth, Rosalie Craig as Kitty, Tamsin Greig as Holly, Lorraine Ashbourne as Jess, and Amelia Bullmore as Yvonne.

Anne Reid will take on the role of Nancy, the mother of Holly and Yvonne, while Sue Johnston will portray Jess's Aunt Mary. Although the Doctor Who star's character in the new series remains undisclosed, he will be joined by fellow actors Claire Skinner and Angel Coulby, according to the Express.

The synopsis of the show states: "In Riot Women, we plunge into the world of five women who, along with two riotous backing singers, form a makeshift punk-rock band to enter a local talent contest, but in writing their first original song, they soon realise that they have a lot to say - and this is their way to say it.

"As they juggle demanding jobs, grown-up children, complicated parents, husbands who've buggered off, and disastrous dates and relationships, the band becomes a catalyst for change in their lives, and it's going to make them question everything.

"The six-part series is a testament to the power of friendship, music, and the resilience of women who refuse to be silenced by age or expectation."

"As the story (set in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire) progresses, it's more than music that binds them; a deeply potent, long-buried secret begins to surface one that unexpectedly entangles Kitty and Beth, the two unlikely creative masterminds behind the band, in a complex triangle - and threatens to tear everything apart," it concluded.

Other notable actors in the BBC drama include Taj Atwal from Line of Duty, Holby City's Chandeep Uppal, and Amit Shah from Happy Valley.

Rick Warden (Red Eye), Ben Batt (Domina), Natalia Tena (Harry Potter), Melanie La Barrie (and Juliet), Oliver Huntingdon (Sherwood), Richard Fleeshman (The Sandman), Olwen May (A Very British Scandal), Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey) and Nicholas Gleaves (Bodyguard) have also been named to appear.

Sally Wainwright, creator, writer, and executive producer said about the new show: "I think I am more excited about this than anything else I have ever written. Ever. Oh my God. We have five of the most fabulous actresses on the planet playing the Riot Women. It's scarily exciting."

BBC Drama Director, Lindsay Salt, expressed her excitement: "We can't wait for viewers to meet the Riot Women when they arrive on the BBC next year. Sally's scripts are magnificent even by her standards, and it's no surprise that they've attracted such a stellar cast to bring this one-of-a-kind band and their vibrant world to life."