I watched The Northumbria Mysteries before anyone else - and I think Robson Green was overshadowed by co-star

Green may have the star power and the local knowledge, described as the ‘North East’s David Attenborough’ by his fellow co-star Gurjeet Singh (DS Raj Singh) in an interview with the Northumberland Gazette, but as soon as the show gets underway, another star takes centre stage.

Northumberland.

From chases through Morpeth town centre or sweeping grand vistas of Dunstanburgh Castle, it is the landscape and character of the county which grabs hold of the viewer and refuses to let go.

This version of Northumberland seen in The Northumbria Mysteries is a less gritty portrayal of the region than in previous detective shows like ITV’s Vera, but it's one that befits the show it is capturing.

Green stars as Joe Ruby in The Northumbria Mysteries, a down on his luck gambling addict who has sought refuge in the arms of the church and Father David Rutherford, played by Simon Callow.

“I think it is a real nod to everyone who's made a mistake in their life and is still living with them,” Green told the Gazette about his character.

Ruby soon teams up with DI Rose O’Connell, played by Liz White, to solve crimes with their chalk-and-cheese relationship and quick wit a real delight.

“They're polar opposites,” Green added. “They don't like each other. But in order for the crime to be solved, they have to be together.

“When they find out what that connection is, throughout the series, they then have to wonder what to do with it. And I think that's a really lovely human thing.”

The one thing you can say about The Northumbria Mysteries is that it has heart, real heart.

It’s not mean-spirited, it has real love that is evident between the cast and crew - 80% of whom came from the north east.

And the beating heart of the show is deeply rooted in the landscape, the towns and the villages that the show was shot in.

The Northumbria Mysteries premieres on BBC One and iPlayer at 2pm on Friday 23 October.