Nicola returns as Norwegian detective, Annika Strandhed, in Series 2 of this radio series.
On 10th May 2014, producer Jeremy Osbourne logged this post in his Facebook page
Given the timing of this Facebook entry, it suggests that Nicola fitted in the recording of Series 2 whilst she was still appearing on stage in A View from the Bridge in the evenings and just before she made her red carpet appearance for the 2014 BAFTA TV Awards.
On 25th June 2014, producer Karen Rose logged this Tweet
On 26th June 2014, in response to our request for more information, Karen posted this reply on Twitter
And we also received this Tweet from Sweet Talk Productions
(Click on each image above to see a larger pic)
Background
From the BBC Radio’s website and producer Jeremy Osbourne’s WordPress blog :
In this second series of stories by Nick Walker – commissioned specially for Radio 4 – Annika is learning to juggle the demands of policing the Oslofjord with a new challenge… namely, single motherhood.
Annika Strandhed is a leading light in the murder squad of the Oslo police. Her neuroses – and she has a few – are mostly hidden by a boisterous manner and a love of speedboats. As fictional Scandinavian detectives go, she’s not as astute as Sarah Lund or Saga Norén, perhaps, but probably better company.
At the end of series one, Annika Strandhed – the queen of the Oslofjord – was going through the gears on her speedboat and promising her child-in-the-womb a lot of fun. Since then she’s given birth to a little boy, named Tor. And now, after an erratic spell of maternity leave, Detective Annika Strandhed of the Oslo Police is back on the case. And so, although he doesn’t know it yet, is little Tor.
I’ll leave you to judge if Annika is permanently altered by motherhood or suffering from temporary bewilderment and broken nights. Certainly, she’s less inclined to accuse a victim’s father than in the previous series, though whether this is because she’s worked through her own father-issues or put them on the back-burner (see bewilderment and broken nights) is anyone’s guess. What hasn’t changed is the brio with which she approaches her work. Annika’s sidekick, police photographer Mikel (who has become one of the great non-speaking radio characters, right up there with Pru Forrest from The Archers or Samantha from I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue) is even more put-upon and long-suffering than before. And, as with Eric Morecambe’s interpretation of Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Annika still tends to play out all the right notes of a case, but not necessarily in the right order.
Once again, Nick Walker has created not just a wonderful character but an entire precinct drama in three short stories/mini-plays. And as before Nicola Walker is at the top of her game, to the extent that I suspect that Annika might be playing Nicola, not the other way around.
In this first programme, a body is found in the ice on the Oslofjord. Annika can’t place where she’s seen it before – but the man is frozen in an oddly familiar pose.
Trailer
This trailer was shared by producer Jeremy Osbourne on the Facebook page for Sweet Talk Productions on 27 June 2014.
Programme Information
Episode 1 (of 3): Into The Ice
A body is found in the ice on the Oslofjord. Annika can’t place where she’s seen it before – but the man is frozen in an oddly familiar pose.
Episode 2 (of 3): Sub Zero
A woman is found, killed by a falling icicle. But Annika believes this was no accident.
Episode 3 (of 3): All Human Life
Frogner Park had always been a place of happy associations for Annika – until three men were found dead at the base of its famous monolith.
Transmission Dates
So, mark your diaries :
Sunday, 6 July 2014 19:45 to 20:00 GMT
Sunday, 13 July 2014 19:45 to 20:00 GMT
Sunday, 20 July 2014 19:45 to 20:00 GMT
Nicola on the radio is an absolute treat. Don’t miss it!
Series 1
Read up on Series 1 HERE.
How to listen to this programme
You can listen to this programme, wherever you are in the world, via the BBC Radio iPlayer, which does not have any geographic restrictions. The programme will remain available on the BBC Radio iPlayer for seven days after the original broadcast date, so if you are unable to tune in at the designated time, you can still catch up on the iPlayer. However, once that period expires, the programme will not be available anywhere until the BBC rebroadcasts it.
Six degrees
Nick Walker is the writer of the Annika Stranded radio series. Nicola was featured in one of his other stories, Life Coach [Audio] in 2010. Nicola is not related to Nick Walker.
I have watch Annika Series one episodes 1 to 6 on iview but although episodes 7 and 8 have screened on the ABC they have not yet appeared on iView?
As far as we are aware, there are only 6 episodes of Annika the TV show.
But… but. May 10 was a Saturday. Saturdays were matinee days for A View From The Bridge at 2:30 pm. Then she had to do it again at 7:30 pm. Which means she must have done the recording for Annika in the morning. Where does she get the energy? And I bet she wasn’t even a bit cranky when she talked to fans after the shows. She’s just brilliant.
Although that FB entry was made on a Saturday, I don’t think that means Nicola recorded her work on the same day. But you’re right, no matter how busy or tired Nicola may be, she’s always got a huge smile for her fans! 🙂