Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger reprise their roles in the latest installment of the acclaimed BBC crime drama, Strike: The Running Grave. This marks the seventh story in the series, co-produced with HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery, and is based on J.K. Rowling’s best-selling novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.
Returning Cast and Crew
The series features Tom Burke as the private detective Cormoran Strike and Holliday Grainger as his partner, Robin Ellacott. The cast includes notable British actors:
- James Fleet as Sir Colin Edensor
- Nichola McAuliffe as Shelley Heaton
- Keeley Forsyth as Mazu Wace
- Fabian McCallum as Will Edensor
- John Lynch as Jonathan Wace
- Ruth Sheen as Pat, Strike’s office manager
- Jack Greenlees as Sam Barclay
- Tupele Dorgu as Midge
- Natasha O’Keeffe as Charlotte
- Sarah Sweeney as Lucy
- Ben Crompton as Shanker
- Stephen Hagan as DCI Richard Murphy
- Caitlin Innes Edwards as Ilsa
The Plot of The Running Grave
In this new story, Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott investigate the Universal Humanitarian Church, a cult that has taken control over Will Edensor, the estranged son of Sir Colin and Sally Edensor. The Edensor family seeks the detectives’ help to discredit the cult and reclaim Will’s trust fund.
The church, led by the charismatic Jonathan Wace, presents a facade of charity while silencing critics through aggressive legal means. Robin Ellacott goes undercover at the cult’s remote Norfolk headquarters, Chapman Farm, where she faces both psychological and physical challenges.
A crucial element of the mystery lies in the church’s bizarre mythology surrounding the Drowned Prophet, Daiyu, which the detectives must unravel. As they delve deeper into this case, they navigate dangerous unknowns, making the search for the truth perilous.
Production and Creatives
Sue Tully returns to direct this season, marking her fourth collaboration with the series. Tom Edge has adapted the script, continuing his work from previous installments. Key production roles include Alex Rendell as producer and executive producers J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts.
Success of the Series
Strike remains one of the BBC’s most popular dramas, with its last installation, The Ink Black Heart, attracting an impressive average of 7.1 million viewers in 2024. The entire series has sold over 20 million copies globally, with each novel reaching significant bestseller status.
The books are available in over 50 countries and have been translated into 43 languages. Fans of crime fiction eagerly await each new installment, making Cormoran Strike a well-respected figure in modern detective literature.
Fans can catch up on previous episodes, as all six prior series of Strike are available on BBC iPlayer.
