Sharon Rooney, currently appearing on Celebrity Traitors, is set to star in a new Channel 5 murder mystery titled An Impossible Way to Die. The six-episode thriller, described as gripping by the channel, follows two detectives investigating the mysterious deaths of four people found dead at a dinner gathering.
Plot and Characters
Rooney plays DS Katie Salter, whose peaceful local policing life is disrupted when she is drawn into a high-stakes murder investigation alongside DI Niall Conway, played by Emmett J. Scanlan. The series is billed as a character-focused, unpredictable drama exploring identity, protection, power, and corruption.
The synopsis reads: "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 victims' mouths." It adds that Salter is "not your stereotypical damaged and tormented TV detective," but rather smart, diligent, and committed to her family.
Clashing Detectives
Tensions rise when Salter is partnered with Conway, whose all-consuming dedication to the job clashes with her measured approach. The synopsis notes that while the two appear fundamentally incompatible, Conway eventually recognizes the value of Salter's empathy and instinctive understanding of people.
As the case becomes increasingly impossible, secrets are unearthed and conspiracies emerge, putting lives at risk as the detectives race to connect seemingly disparate cases and unmask a killer.
Cast and Production
Rooney is best known for her role as Rae Earl in My Mad Fat Diary and has appeared in Dumbo and Barbie. She is currently competing in Celebrity Traitors alongside Richard E. Grant, Ross Kemp, Maya Jama, and Miranda Hart. Scanlan is recognized for his role as Paul O'Donnell in MobLand, with credits including Kin, Peaky Blinders, and Gangs of London.
Lois Chimimba, Jonny Lavelle, and Ashley McGuire also appear. Adam Wimpenny directs, with executive producers Mike Benson and Myf Hopkins, and producer Amber Howorth. The series, written by Jillian Mannion and others, is set to air on Channel 5 in 2027.
