After releasing the trailer for the upcoming return of everyone’s favourite detective, the BBC has confirmed episode 1 of series 5 will air on New Year’s Day 2019.

The four-episode series will air on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer, with the following 3 episodes airing on consecutive nights between January 1 – 4, 2019 at 9pm.

Elba reprises his role in the four-episode series. Ruth Wilson will also be returning even though she was meant to be killed off in season 4. Wunmi Mosaku joins the cast as new recruit DS Catherine Halliday and ‘Cold Feet’ star Hermione Norris will play a psychiatrist named Dr Vivien Lake who is called on to help Luther get to the bottom of a swathe of brutal murders. Showrunner, Neil Cross also returns and ‘The Alienist’ and ‘White Princess’  Jamie Payne will direct.

Also in trailers – New trailer for BBC adaptation ‘Les Misérables’ takes us amongst civil unrest

Luther will be joining forces with DS Catherine Halliday (Wunmi Mosaku) to investigate a series of “monstrous killings”, who can be seen in the trailer alongside Norris and Patrick Malahide. There is also a brief glimpse of Ruth Wilson to watch out for amongst the new horrors that await our maverick detective.

Series 5 synopsis reads: When the moonless shadows of London give birth to a new nightmare, DCI John Luther is once more called to immerse himself in the deepest depths of human depravity.

While the monstrous and seemingly indiscriminate killings become ever more audacious and public, Luther and new recruit D.S. Catherine Halliday played by Wunmi Mosaku are confounded by a complex tangle of leads and misdirection that seems designed to protect an untouchable corruption. But even as the case brings him closer than ever to the true face of evil, a reluctant Luther is forced to confront the unburied demons of his own recent past. Striding back into the line of fire, he must choose who to protect and who to sacrifice.

Whatever his next move, it will have devastating consequences for those around him – and change John Luther forever.

Watch the trailer for Luther Series 5 below.