Andrew LincolnArturo Holmes/Getty Images

Andrew Lincoln is returning to British TV.

The Walking Dead star has landed his first role on this side of the pond for well over a decade in an ITV thriller that he will EP titled Cold Water, which is penned by storied playwright David Ireland and produced by Eric outfit Sister. Fellow cast includes Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting), Indira Varma (Obsession) and Eve Myles (Keeping Faith).

In Cold Water, Lincoln will play John, a repressed man who who is shocked to find himself in middle age, secretly raging at his life as a stay-at-home dad. He moves to a backwater Scottish village and strikes up a friendship with next door neighbor Tommy (Bremner), who is despised by wife Fiona (Varma). When her husband’s relationship with their enigmatic new neighbour becomes increasingly intense, Fiona’s suspicions are aroused. She is unconvinced Tommy is all he seems to be.

Lincoln is best known for playing lead character Rick Grimes in AMC’s hit franchise The Walking Dead, which recently landed a deal with Sky in the UK. He starred in the post-apocalyptic horror series for eight years and reprised his role earlier this year in spin-off The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. He came up through British TV, landing early roles in BBC drama This Life and Channel 4 sitcom Teachers, along with a star turn in Richard Curtis’ Love Actually. His last British TV project was Sky series Strike Back opposite Richard Armitage in 2010.

Cold Water represents the latest small screen project for Ireland, who made his name as an award-winning playwright but also penned Sky series The Lovers. He could also be seen playing Sean Devlin in Channel 4 hit comedy Derry Girls.

Sister’s debut ITV drama, Passenger, meanwhile, launched several weeks back. Jane Featherstone and Elisabeth Murdoch’s outfit’s latest series to hit the small screen was Eric, a fantastical Netflix show starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

Ireland said: “Cold Water started with a question I was asking myself. Where do I want to live – the countryside or the city? Such an innocent beginning, but from it came this dark, funny, twisted thriller. And I’m amazed we’ve managed to attract such a peerless cast, led by the formidable Andrew Lincoln.”

ITV Head of Drama Polly Hill added: “David’s scripts are wonderful, and original and have attracted an incredible cast led by Andrew Lincoln. It promises to be a really unmissable drama.”

The series will be executive produced by Chris Fry (Landscapers, Kaos), Alice Tyler (The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies), Lydia Hampson (Fleabag, The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies), Jane Featherstone (Chernobyl, Eric), Ireland and Lincoln. Brian Coffey (Dinosaur, Our Ladies) will produce. ITV Studios will handle international distribution.

Further casting and production details are yet to be announced with filming due to start later in 2024.

Lincoln is represented by CAA, Range Media Partners, Wolf Kasteler and attorney Geoffry Oblath.