Sinead Keenan joins ITV drama 'Unforgotten' alongside Sanjeev Bhaskar

Sinead Keenan has joined ITV's hit drama Unforgotten where she will play DCI Jessica James.

Keenan joins a cast led by Sanjeev Bhaskar who won a Bafta for his portrayal of DI Sunny Khan in the mystery murder drama.

The first four seasons starred Nicola Walker alongside Bhaskar but she departed at the end of the fourth season. Keenan is widely seen as the replacement for Walker.

Keenan, best known for her Bafta nominated role in Little Boy Blue, said about joining the show: “I have long been an admirer of Chris Lang’s work so I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Unforgotten team. I’m very much looking forward to working with the extraordinary cast led by the brilliant and incredibly lovely, Sanjeev Bhaskar."

Series creator Chris Lang also commented on Keenan joining the show: “And so it begins, a new Unforgotten journey - and it’s scary, for Sunny and the Bishop Street team, for the audience, for all of us. But it’s also very, very, exciting, and I cannot wait for you to meet DCI Jessica ‘Jessie’ James, played by the always brilliant, Sinéad Keenan.”

Read more: Everything we know so far about Unforgotten series 5

As well as Little Boy Blue, Keenan has won praise for her performances in shows such as Being Human and Jimmy McGovern's Care. She has also appeared in episodes of Doctor Who, Silent Witness and Doctors.

A younger Keenan also starred in critically acclaimed Irish film Sunburn alongside Cillian Murphy in 1999.

Since premiering in 2015, Unforgotten has received praise and acclaim in particular for its humane and sensitive approach to crime.

The rest of the cast for season five includes Ian McElhinney from Game of Thrones, Rhys Yates from Silent Witness and Martina Laird from The Bay.

Several regular cast members are also returning including Jordan Long, Carolina Main and Michelle Bonnard.

Watch a trailer for Unforgotten season four below: