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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

DCI Banks author Peter Robinson, behind hit ITV series, dies as friends pay tribute

DCI Banks novelist Peter Robinson has died at the age of 72.

His publishers confirmed the news in a statement about the renowned crime author.

Peter's crime series, featuring protagonist Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, was made into the popular ITV drama called DCI Banks, which starred Stephen Tompkinson.

He passed away on Tuesday following a brief illness, publishing company Hodder & Stoughton stated.

Hodder managing director Carolyn Mays said: "Peter was a combination of all the best bits of his detective Alan Banks - thoughtful and passionate about justice, he had fine taste and a totally down-to-earth view of the world.

"His humour was wry and very dry.

Peter died on Tuesday after a brief illness (Evening Gazette)

"He was a Yorkshireman to the core; much that he did was done without fanfare, like the scholarship he created at the University of Leeds, where he himself took his first degree, to sponsor students through an English literature and creative writing course.

"Our hearts are with his family and friends, his agents David Grossman and Dominick Abel, the many thousands of fans who will miss his work so much, and most of all with his beloved wife Sheila, to whom he dedicated every single book he wrote."

Robinson published his first DCI Banks novel in 1987 and wrote a number of other novels, short stories and poems throughout his career.

Meanwhile, ITV's adaptation aired between 2011 and 2017.

Tributes poured in for the novelist, with condolences from crime writers Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.

Pals paid tribute to the renowned writer (Evening Gazette)

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Val posted on Twitter: "Sad to hear of the death of Peter Robinson.

"We were both first published in 1987, and our paths often crossed, (usually accompanied by beer) in Canada and his beloved Yorkshire. Condolences to Sheila."

Ian wrote: "Hellish news about my dear friend Peter Robinson. Spent many a wonderful evening in the company of him and his partner Sheila."

Peter studied English Literature at the University of Leeds and ended up moving to Canada with his wife Sheila Halladay.

In 2020, the writer received the Grand Master Award from the Crime Writers of Canada, having previously received their Derrick Murdoch Award in 2010.

He leaves behind wife Sheila.

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