BBC Four to show new dramas Inspector Da Luca and Arne Dahl- but can they beat Borgen?

Birgitte Nyborg Christensen (SIDSE BABETT KNUDSEN)

BBC Four has announced it will introduce two new foreign crime series this year, adding to its reputation for international drama.

Following the channel’s acquisition of Scandinavian dramas The Killing, Borgen and Wallander, a new Swedish crime series Arne Dahl will air this year.

Arne Dahl, the pseudonym of award winning author Jan Arnald, is based on five of Dahl’s novels, starting with The Blinded Man.

Fans of Inspector Montalbano will also be pleased to see the addition of a new four part Italian crime series Inspector Da Luca.

Set in and around Bologna during the tumultuous years of Mussolini’s dictatorship, the series follows Inspector Da Luca, an uncompromising man whose love of women lands him in trouble.

The two series will be shown on BBC Four on Saturday night, a slot that has increased its audience share threefold since 2009.

Controller of BBC Four Richard Klein said: “These acquisitions are part of BBC Four’s on-going mission to give viewers an excuse to stay in on a Saturday night by offering an entertainment alternative to Saturday night television viewing.

“Arne Dahl continues in the tradition of The Killing and Wallander…and Inspector Da Luca is a clever and hugely entertaining drama.”

Series three of popular political drama Borgen will also return this winter to BBC Four, along with Inspector Montalbano, its prequel series Young Montalbano and series two of The Bridge.