May 17th 2024.
Richard Rankin has been chosen to take on the lead role in the latest Rebus adaptation. This is not the first time the Inspector Rebus novels have been adapted for the screen, as they were first turned into a TV series almost 25 years ago. Written by Scottish author Ian Rankin, the very first novel in the series, Knots and Crosses, was released in 1987. Since then, 23 more novels have been released, each gaining a significant following. The series, which follows the story of Detective Inspector John Rebus and is set in Edinburgh, is estimated to account for 10% of all crime book sales in the UK. Each book routinely sells half a million copies, proving its popularity among readers.
The first TV adaptation of the series was released in 2000, with John Hannah starring as the title character. The show ran until 2007, with Ken Stott taking on the lead role for the following three seasons. And now, after more than a decade, the show is making a comeback, this time with Richard Rankin in the lead. Rankin is best known for his previous role in Outlander and fans are eager to see him take on the role of the famed police detective.
So, who is Richard Rankin? The 41-year-old Scottish actor was born in Rutherglen, Scotland in 1983. He spent part of his childhood in Glasgow, where he was raised by his father, who was a police officer, and his mother, who worked in the hotel industry. Initially, Rankin had plans for a career in the sciences or Information Technology. However, a chance encounter during a holiday to Los Angeles changed the course of his life. While staying at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, a film producer noticed Rankin and told him he had the look of an actor. This led him to audition for Langside College in Glasgow, and he eventually started using his mother's maiden name to avoid confusion with another actor, Richard Harris.
Rankin's first acting role was in a Scottish video game show called VideoGaiden in 2006. He then went on to make appearances in various TV shows such as Legit, The Old Guys, and Taggart. He also appeared in the comedy series Burnistoun before landing a role in the WWI mini-series The Crimson Field. He has since appeared in many other popular shows such as Silent Witness, American Odyssey, The Syndicate, and From Darkness. However, it was his role as Roger Wakefield in Outlander that brought him widespread recognition. He first appeared in the season two finale in 2016 and has since become a recurring character, playing the love interest of Brianna Fraser.
Aside from TV, Rankin has also appeared in films, theatre productions, radio shows, and podcasts. In 2020, it was announced that he had been cast in the new Rebus adaptation, where he will be taking on the lead role of John Rebus. Rankin expressed his excitement and gratitude for being chosen to play such an iconic Scottish character, while author Ian Rankin (no relation) backed him for "bringing the character to life."
As for his personal life, Rankin is not married but is currently dating Australian sleepwear designer Sammie Russell. They were recently seen together at the season 7 premiere of Outlander at the Tribeca Film Festival. Rankin was previously linked to actress Cara Theobold while they were working together on the BBC One drama The Syndicate, but they never confirmed their relationship.
Fans can catch Rankin in action as John Rebus when the new series airs tonight at 10pm on BBC Scotland and on Saturday at 9:25pm on BBC One. For those who can't wait, all episodes are now available to watch on BBC iPlayer. And for those who have a celebrity story, video, or pictures to share, they can get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing or calling them.
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