Relatively delayed, the second season of the police detective drama Ridley have graced our screens since September 15, 2024. While Adrian Dunbar has been thrust into a very different type of role, his cameo as Alex Ridley in August 2022 saw fans sticking their heads out further by hearing Dunbar sing.
Viewers witnessed the retired detective croon tunes in a jazz club that he owned as part of the storyline. But was it really Adrian Dunbar singing? Yes, it was. Not only did he belt out tunes, his character's connection to music also played a central role in his emotional arc.
As Dunbar himself admitted, it wasn't random but a contribution from him that helped to flesh out the complexity of his character. The reason why music played such an important role in the narrative was that it gave him a form of expression to express his sorrow.
Adrian Dunbar's musical past from bands to Ridley
Adrian Dunbar, a man of the theatre in any sense of the word, wasn't exactly going to steer clear of the music that accompanies him. In truth, the actor, better known to many for playing the role of Ted Hastings in Line of Duty has a personal love affair with music.
Years before the breakout hit turned him into a scenery-chewing cinematic thug, Dunbar was accustomed to performing live. In an interview with Radio Times, he reveals that he began playing in bands at a young age. As he hit his 40s, he had a three-piece country band that he played around the pubs and bars of Ireland.
He told Radio Times in August 2022:
"I went out on the road in Ireland, played in pubs and bars… because I like it."
Dunbar was also once an Elvis impersonator. This meant that performing on stage wasn’t daunting to him in the least.
He admitted,
“I wasn’t nervous at all. I’ve done quite a bit of stage work. This was really natural for me.”
Dunbar pointed out that Ridley's jazz club served as a much-needed emotional space. He needed to express his grief because of the death of his wife and daughter. The music went a long way in enlightening his softer side, as there was a man, despite battling the crush of his losses, who found solace through songs.
Which songs did Adrian Dunbar perform in Ridley?
Dunbar himself selected the songs that he was to sing on the show. Thus, not only do they match the emotional setup of his character, but also combine to bring out a certain tone to the show. Examples of such songs include The Mountains of Mourne, an old Irish ballad, which brought out the undertone of Ridley's mourning.
On the other hand, Coles Corner by Richard Hawley was yet another tune that the audience found themselves in harmony with. In a live Q&A before Ridley's launch, Dunbar disclosed that he had discovered Richard Hawley's music while researching jazz for the show.
“I came across Richard Hawley… we contacted Richard and found three of his songs that really suited my character," Dunbar told Radio Times.
These musical choices provided a "warmer and more glamorous" atmosphere that balanced the intense crime-solving narrative. While returning to detective work poses its own set of challenges, music becomes a recurring theme in his life.
In an interview with Express, Dunbar was quoted stating that his singing was no "add-on", but rather something that became an integral part of the show and allowed him to connect with others who are managing their grief.
Why did Adrian Dunbar have to sing in Ridley?
Dunbar's character was fighting against the nadir of loss. Music became the vehicle through which he could put into words what no word was ever able to.
Speaking of his character, Dunbar told Express,
“He’s got a real empathy for other people in grief because of what has happened to him.”
This utilization of music as an emotional tool sets Ridley apart from your average crime drama. It gives a softer and more fragile side to the lead detective. The show succeeds in providing a platform for the conversation of his grief and peace-building about the character.
Adrian Dunbar's performance, as actor and singer, is an interesting look in Ridley, because it combines broad-talent work with anchoring the character firmly in something deeply personal. The songs develop the character of Ridley into someone who, amid all the recognition of his past, seeks healing.
Viewers can watch the show on ITV and stream it online via ITVX.
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