Graham Norton didn't want to adapt his novel into a TV show himself

Graham Norton didn't want to adapt his novel into a TV show himself.

The 58-year-old TV presenter - whose bestselling crime novel 'Holding' is set to air on ITV as a four-part comedy-drama series later this month - admitted that he was "very clear" about wanting to "hand his characters over" to scriptwriters, because he felt his time with them was up.

He is quoted by the Daily Mirror newspaper as saying: "I was very clear I didn't want to adapt it myself. I'd had my time with those characters, it was time to hand them over. I've loved seeing the direction they've gone."

Graham also claimed that the novel - which was originally published in 2016 - was written "so long ago" that he had even "forgotten the character's names".

The series - which is directed by seasoned comedienne Kathy Burke, 57, and stars former 'Game of Thrones' actor Conleth Hill as a police sergeant - focuses on the dark past of a small village which starts to unravel when human remains are found on the local farm.

The new series also stars Siobhan McSweeney, 42, - famed for her role as the belligerent Sister Michael in hit sitcom 'Derry Girls' - as alcoholic Brid, who was set to marry the man before his body was discovered.

They are joined in the cast by former 'Father Ted' actress Pauline McLynn, who has been cast as the local busybody in the upcoming series.

A synopsis for the opening episode reads: "When human remains are found in a sleepy Irish village, Sergeant PJ Collins finally has a genuine crime to solve."