Sharon Rooney is set to lead the new Channel 5 crime thriller An Impossible Way to Die, a six-part drama that follows the Scottish actress as DS Katie Slater, a detective drawn into a high-pressure murder investigation that upends her quiet life.
Rooney, known for roles in My Mad Fat Diary and Two Doors Down, is currently appearing in BBC's Celebrity Traitors. The 37-year-old, who describes herself as a "Glasgow girl," said that background will help her navigate the show's game of deception, where she is a Faithful trying to identify Traitors without being murdered or banished.
Plot and Cast Details
The synopsis reads: "DS Katie Salter 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."
Unlike stereotypical tormented TV detectives, Slater is smart, diligent and committed to her family, but her morals are tested as she races to unmask the killer. The series explores themes of identity, protection, power and corruption.
Rooney is cast alongside MobLand star Emmett J. Scanlan as DI Niall Conway, forming an incompatible detective duo who must set aside differences as the investigation deepens. The cast also includes Lois Chimimba (Vigil), Jonny Lavelle (Black Mirror) and Ashley McGuire (This Is Going To Hurt).
Production and Broadcast
The drama will air in 2027. 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 Slater."
He added: "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."
Rooney is currently starring in Celebrity Traitors, which began on October 1. In the first episode, she said: "As a fan of the show, I always laugh when people play really strong and wrong. As a Glasgow girl I'm quite good at being nosey and I like to think I'm a good judge of character. But I think this show's going to really, really test that."
