The Fall, starring Gillian Anderson, is a British-Irish drama series produced by Artists Studio and created by Allan Cubitt. It premiered in the Republic of Ireland at 21:30 on 12 May 2013, and in the UK on BBC Two at 21:00 on 13 May 2013. The series features Jamie Dornan, with John Lynch, Bronagh Waugh, Stuart Graham, and Niamh McGrady.

Cubitt was inspired by guitar manufacturing companies when naming some of his characters; both Stella and Gibson are brands of guitar, as are Benedetto, Brawley, Breedlove, Burns, Eastwood, Hagstrom, James Olson, James Tyler, Kay, Martin, Music Man, Paul Reed Smith, Rick Turner, Spector, Stagg, Terry McInturff, and Tom Anderson.

Cast overview Actor Character Series 1 2 3 Gillian Anderson DSU Stella Gibson colspan="3" Jamie Dornan Paul Spector colspan="3" John Lynch ACC Jim Burns colspan="3" Aisling Franciosi Katie Benedetto colspan="2" Bronagh Waugh Sally Ann Spector colspan="3" Niamh McGrady PC Danielle Ferrington colspan="2" Gerard Jordan PC Brian Stone colspan="2" Stuart Graham DCI Matthew Eastwood colspan="2" Bronágh Taggart DC Gail McNally Valene Kane Rose Stagg colspan="2" Emmett J. Scanlan DC Glen Martin colspan="3" Archie Panjabi Prof Reed Smith colspan="2" Richard Clements DC Rick Turner Colin Morgan DS Tom Anderson colspan="2" Karen Hassan Annie Brawley Jonjo O'Neill Tom Stagg colspan="2" Nick Lee Ned Callan Brian Milligan James Tyler Séainín Brennan Elizabeth Tyler Ben Peel DS James Olson Ian McElhinney Morgan Monroe Aidan McArdle Sean Healy colspan="2" Ruth Bradley Louise Wallace colspan="2" Michael McElhatton DI Rob Breedlove colspan="2" Frank McCusker DCI Garrett Brink colspan="2" Aisling Bea Kiera Sheridan colspan="2" Barry Ward Dr Patrick Spencer colspan="2" Krister Henriksson Dr August Larson colspan="2" Laura Donnelly Sarah Kay colspan="2" Richard Coyle Dr Joe O'Donnell colspan="2" Denise Gough Dr Alison Walden colspan="2" Seán McGinley Fr Peter Jensen Genevieve O'Reilly DCI Joan Kinkead colspan="2" Martin McCann David Alvarez colspan="2"

Main characters Det. Supt. Stella Gibson DSI Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson), is a senior Metropolitan Police Superintendent attached to Britain's major case review team. Gibson has been seconded to the PSNI on a 28-day review of a murder investigation that quickly escalates into a hunt for a serial killer and she's made the Senior Investigating Officer (and Silver Commander) of Operation Musicman. Gibson is a very capable detective and a woman who is highly comfortable with her sexuality; this plays a pivotal role in her story arc with other characters, primarily James Olson and Jim Burns. Whilst working in Belfast, she becomes embroiled in the politics of policing and uncovers corruption within the force. In the second series, with her investigation stalled, Gibson is forced to get results under the threat of a new 28-day review into Operation Musicman. As Stella's past comes back to haunt her, her professional present becomes further tangled in it. Stella has what Paul describes as "daddy-issues", due to her father's untimely death. During series three, Gibson is placed under investigation by the Police Ombudsman following the shooting of Spector. Burns allows her to retain her job, which leads her to fall victim to a vicious assault during her final showdown with the killer.

Peter Paul Spector

Peter Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan), the father of two young children. During the day, Paul is a bereavement counsellor, though at night he is, as dubbed by the press, the "Belfast Strangler". As Paul hunts his prey, he begins to develop an obsession with, and an affinity for, Stella. He is married to Sally Ann, a neo-natal nurse, and has a strong friendship with Katie Benedetto. Spector claims that he had an affair with Katie, a fifteen-year-old school girl, to quell the suspicions of his wife. Sally Ann later becomes pregnant and the first series ends with Paul fleeing Ireland for Scotland as the net closes in. In series 2, returning to Ireland, Spector's lust to kill is now stronger than ever. As he gets closer to Stella, he finds an unusual source of help in Katie. After an encounter with James Tyler, Spector is arrested and, co-operating with officers, is shot by Tyler at a crime scene. Surviving his injuries, Spector presents as having lost six years of memory. After undergoing psychological evaluation, he attacks Gibson and his psychiatrist, before committing suicide.

Asst. Ch. Constable Jim Burns ACC Jim Burns (John Lynch), the Assistant Chief Constable of the PSNI in charge of operations and the Gold Commander of Musicman. Burns had an affair with Stella several years previously and despite being married, still appears to be infatuated with her. He's a skilled officer and knows how to balance politics and police-work. He is initially hesitant about linking the murders but later provides the investigation with all the resources it requires. He is, at first, believed to be linked to the PSNI corruption scandal, though this is later disproved. During series 2, his lust for Stella becomes more apparent when he attempts to force himself on her whilst drunk. This drinking continues into series three and he resigns his commission during the series finale.

Katie Benedetto Katerina "Katie" Benedetto (Aisling Franciosi), a 15-year-old schoolgirl. She babysits the Spectors' children and - over the course of doing so - develops an affinity for Paul Spector. Katie is a gifted musician and uses online videos to express her feelings. During series 2 she becomes deeply embroiled in Paul's life. Paul ties her up in a hotel room, for example, whilst Katie breaks into a house wearing a shirt with Spector's face on. Benedetto is placed under police surveillance and later arrested whilst trying to dispose of evidence that implicates Paul in the murders.

In series three, Katie has been released on police bail. Amid the media coverage of the arrest and trial of the Belfast Strangler, Katie's obsession with Paul Spector continues to grow, and she becomes distant from her family and friends. Katie becomes increasingly rebellious by playing truant from school, performing a septum piercing on herself and running away from home after an argument with her mother. Then she tracks down her former friend Daisy Drake outside a nightclub and, as instructed to by Spector in series 2, she sprays a corrosive substance (lemon juice) in the other girl's eyes. She attempts to visit Spector in hospital on more than one occasion, but is recognised by PC Angstrom, the officer who arrested her in series 2 and now has the duty of guarding Spector. She asks Sean Healey to pass on a letter to Spector, but he refuses. On her second visit to the hospital, she is arrested for breaching her bail conditions and is remanded in a youth detention facility. Katie is put on trial for the assault on Daisy Drake, but at the plea hearing she is abusive and makes threats towards the judge, and she has to be removed from the courtroom. During this time, she is visited by Stella at the juvenile detention facility and reveals to Stella that her father's death had a severe emotional impact on her, and she has been self-harming. Stella reveals that she also used to cut herself, and tries to convince Katie not to further ruin her own life in an attempt to impress Spector, who doesn't know or care that she exists. Stella seems to be the only one who can get through to Katie.

Sally Ann Spector Sally Ann Spector (née Goodall) (Bronagh Waugh), the wife of Paul Spector and a neonatal nurse. She has a deep devotion to Paul, but is wary of his character as she has never met his family. Sally Ann is the mother of his two children and is unaware of his dark side. Over the course of the series, she becomes embroiled in his crimes without her knowledge by providing a false alibi to the police. After leaving Paul for a short time, believing he slept with Katie, the two reconcile and she flees Ireland with him. In series 2, they return. Sally Ann is pregnant with their third child, though she suffers a miscarriage. Following her arrest for assisting an offender, Sally attempts to kill her children, who are subsequently placed with foster parents. No information is given about the result of the charges that had been brought against her.

PC Danielle Ferrington PC Danielle Ferrington (Niamh McGrady), a police constable first seen attending a breaking and entering call at Sarah Kay's home. She blames herself for Kay's murder and tells Gibson this, resulting in her being recruited by Gibson to work with Operation Musicman. Ferrington is a skilled investigator, and proves herself invaluable to the team. She speaks openly of her homosexuality to bisexual Gibson, and as a result the two develop both a professional and a personal bond. She later returns to patrol, believing she can do the most good on the street. It is in this capacity that she is involved in a gunfight with Spector and, following her suspension from front-line duty, is re-recruited by Gibson.

Det. Ch. Insp. Matthew Eastwood DCI Matthew Eastwood (Stuart Graham), a senior detective chief inspector and longtime PSNI officer. Eastwood works for the Discipline and Complaints Commission and, as such, his character withstands the scrutiny of others. His primary task is to investigate corruption allegations within the PSNI. He and Stella work together several times due to her involvement with Olson and Breedlove. As well as being a corruption investigator, he is also trained in criminal investigations. During series 2, he becomes Gibson's deputy, questioning many of her investigative decisions.

DC Gail McNally DC Gail McNally (Bronágh Taggart), a detective who was assigned to Musicman sometime prior to the second series. She is Martin's partner. Tough, eager, and skilled, McNally is not afraid to confront criminals in the same manner as her male colleagues. Gibson relies on her heavily during the investigative process.

Rose Stagg Rose Veronica Stagg (née McGill) (Valene Kane), a woman who had a sexual relationship with Paul whilst at university. During a night of passion, Paul tried to strangle her to death. As the Belfast Strangler comes to the attention of the public, Stagg notices the similarities and contacts her close friend Reed Smith. Her husband was unaware the attack had taken place. She is later kidnapped and held captive by Spector. She is later found unconscious in a car boot. During series three, Stagg reveals that her sexual relationship with Paul was entirely consensual and that during sex he strangled her so much that she had to be revived.

DC Glen Martin DC Glen Martin (Emmett Scanlan), a capable detective with a somewhat boyish attitude towards his work. Martin is an invaluable member of Gibson's team and in series two, takes on a more prominent role. He is partnered with DC Gail McNally and is fiercely protective of her, though not to a fault. Stella is often shown to be displeased at his attitude towards police work and in particular his habit of eating whilst on duty.

Professor Reed Smith Professor Reed Smith (Archie Panjabi), an esteemed medical professional and the senior pathologist assigned to Musicman. An avid rider of motorcycles, and somewhat unconventional in manner, Smith develops a personal closeness to Gibson and the two confide in each-other regularly. She's very professional, though her personal life later becomes embroiled in the case when an old friend of hers reveals she has had a sexual encounter with Spector. Whilst drinking with Stella, the two embrace in a kiss, and go back to Stella's hotel room, though Reed later gets cold feet.

DC Rick Turner Rick Turner (Richard Clements), a Detective Constable.

Det. Sgt. Tom Anderson