Dornan plays serial killer Paul Sector, who stalks his victims in and around Belfast. Anderson is talented Detective Superintendent Gibson on secondment from the Met, brought in to catch him.

Produced by Artists Studio and written by Allan Cubitt (The Runaway, Murphy’s Law, Prime Suspect), the five episodes will follow the police investigation uncovering the intricate story of the lives entangled by a series of murders - both the killers’ and the victims’ families.

Allan Cubitt says: “When I think of the great television drama from my formative years I think first and foremost of their writers. I applaud wholeheartedly Artists Studio’s attempt, with the support of the BBC, to put the writer back at the heart - and head - of British TV drama.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning says: “The Fall is a unique, forensic and characterful take on a classic genre that continues BBC Two’s commitment to original British drama in 2012. Cubitt’s rich and complex psychological thriller combined with another compelling performance from Gillian Anderson will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.”

Artists Studio was set up by former BOX TV alumni JustinThomson-Glover, Gub Neal and Patrick Irwin. Gub Neal and Julian Stevens will produce with Allan Cubitt, Justin Thomson-Glover and Patrick Irwin acting as executive producers. Neal and Cubitt both won Primetime Emmy’s for their work on Prime Suspect 2 and 5.

Filming has started in Belfast. The series was commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two and Ben Stephenson, Controller of Drama Commissioning, and will be executive produced by Stephen Wright through BBC Northern Ireland.

This commission continues to demonstrate BBC Two’s commitment to original British drama in 2012. It will join a raft of new dramas on the channel this year including Paula Milne’s White Heat; Jed Mercurio’s Line of Duty; Sir Tom Stoppard’s Parade’s End; a second series of The Hour and a major new cycle of Shakespeare’s four most acclaimed historical works, part of a season based on the Bard’s life and works.