The star of a beloved BBC crime drama that fans have hailed as a 'masterpiece' has hinted at its possible return. Adrian Lester, who played Mickey 'Bricks' Stone in Hustle, appeared on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, 29 April, and discussed the potential for the show's revival.
Hustle: A Look Back at the BBC Series
Hustle first aired in 2004 and ran for eight series until 2012. The show followed a group of con artists who specialized in 'long cons'—high-risk, high-reward deceptive frauds. Although they were criminals, the group targeted greedy, amoral, and undeserving individuals. Each episode featured a complex scam that was revealed at the end, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
The BBC originally described the series as taking viewers 'into a world with a whole new set of rules, where the good guys can be very bad and you can't always trust what's right before your eyes.' It was an action-packed blend of humour and intrigue, following five expert con artists let loose on the streets of London.
Fan Reactions and Critical Acclaim
Fans were devastated when the series ended, but many have continued to praise it. One fan called it a 'masterpiece,' adding, 'The Brits have a classic on their hands with this one.' Another said, 'From the marvellous, absolutely thrilling opening title sequence to the vintage splitscreen shots and cliché montage tricks, this is an incredible breath of fresh air from the BBC.' Yet another echoed, 'This is quite simply the best British television programme that I have seen grace our screens,' while someone else added, 'It's probably the best crime drama I've ever seen.'
Adrian Lester Hints at a Comeback
During his BBC Breakfast appearance, Lester spoke about his new West End production before addressing the possibility of Hustle returning. When asked by hosts Sarah Campbell and Ben Thompson, he said: 'There's always conversations about it possibly coming back. It's something that's been really well-loved by the public, and it was a great success for the BBC, and we are ever hopeful that it might come back on our screens.'
This is not the first time the cast has hinted at a revival. In 2023, Matt Di Angelo, who played Sean Kennedy in the series, shared a cast reunion photo on Instagram with the caption 'We’rrrrreeeee Baaaccckkkk,' sending fans into a frenzy. One fan wrote, 'Shut up!!!!!!!!! Oh my god I'm sooooo excited!!' while another said, 'Remember you can’t con an honest man so this has best be true.'
Previous Statements About the Show's End
Despite these hints, the cast had previously insisted in 2012 that Hustle 'couldn't be brought back.' Kelly Adams, who played Emma Kennedy, told the BBC: 'We were contracted to be in it for three years, which was supposed to end last year, but the ratings were the highest they've ever been. So they [the producers] said, 'Shall we just do one more and finish it properly with a fantastic leading storyline so it can't come back?' and we said, 'Yes.'' Matt Di Angelo added, 'It's really bizarre. None of us saw it coming.'
Where to Watch Hustle
All eight series of Hustle are currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer. With the recent hints from Adrian Lester, fans are hopeful that the show may one day return to screens.
