ITV Shelves Adrian Dunbars Hit Drama Ridley

's police drama Ridley has been quietly shelved by . 

Ridley debuted in 2022 and was created by Paul Matthew Thompson, who is also behind  drama Vera.

It ran for two series and boasted an impressive cast and had good ratings after it aired in America. 

But ITV have no plans to bring it back for a third series. 

A spokesperson for the network told the Daily Mail: 'There are currently no plans to return to Ridley.

'We'd like to extend our thanks to creator and writer Paul Matthew Thompson, executive producer Jonathan Fisher and the team at West Road Pictures for producing two successful series.'

The series followed DI Ridley, a widowed homicide officer who was unwillingly made redundant following a mental breakdown.

His situation was made worse when his replacement on the force is revealed to be former protégée Carol Farman /(Bronagh Waugh).

However, Acting DI Farman soon enlisted Ridley for help with a complicated murder case and he is once again right back in the thick of it, where he belongs.

He spends some of his retirement time as a pianist and singer in a jazz club of which he is a co-owner, and each episode ended with him singing. 

Series two then followed Ridley investigating a jewellery heist that turned into a murder case. 

Adrian, 67, previously spoke about his hopes for Ridley to return. 

He said: 'The programme did very good numbers when it was shown in America and I know that PBS [the US's Public Broadcasting Service], who part-financed Ridley, would like us to film another series.

'There's definitely more to be said about Alex Ridley, his troubled life and the team of detectives with whom he works, and I would love to film more.'

While viewers will miss Ridley, Adrian will be back on screens as  is officially set to return for a seventh series. 

's hit thriller last aired in 2021 with the series six finale coming in as the biggest drama episode since modern records began in 2002, with 17 million viewers recorded after 28-days. 

However fans were left disappointed by the controversial ending of series six, when bumbling Det Supt Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) was unmasked as 'H' - the shadowy criminal mastermind behind the police corruption. 

Hoping to win back fans the new six-part series will start filming in Belfast in the coming spring. 

In series seven AC-12 has been disbanded and rebranded the Inspectorate of Police Standards. 

Adrian, who plays Superintendent Ted Hastings, will join AC-12's Martin Compston (DI Steve Arnott) and Vicky McClure (DI Kate Fleming).