BBC announce RIPPER STREET

The BBC have announced their new eight-part detective drama Ripper Street. This series by Richard Warlow (Waking The Dead) will take place months after Jack The Ripper's notorious murders of 1888. The action focuses on H Division, the "police precinct from hell" charged with keeping law and order on the streets of Whitechapel in the aftermath of the Ripper's kills. A fictional Victorian detective and his forensic expert sidekick will be the leads, but have yet to be cast.

Danny Cohen, BBC1 Controller:

"Ripper Street is a gripping new drama for BBC One. Set against the backdrop of a fevered historical London, I believe it has the quality and intensity to be a hit with BBC One viewers."

Greg Brenman, Head of Drama:

"We are so excited about Ripper Street and believe that Richard Warlow is creating a period show that respects its moment in history whilst also achieving a thoroughly modern, entertaining and visceral piece of entertainment."

Simon Vaughan, executive-producer:

"The Ripper case was the first ever mass-media man hunt and is known literally all over the world. We are producing a British drama with global ambitions and we are already having conversations with a number of US and international broadcasters who recognise the in built branding of the title."

Ripper Street will commence production in early-2012, courtesy of Tiger Aspect Productions and Lookout Point. This feels like an attempt by the BBC to capitalize on their modern-day update of Sherlock, but by ironically going back to the era Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective is associated with. The success of ITV1's Whitechapel may also have been an influence on getting this made.