The Turkish Detective is nearly here and fans are eager to find out who will be starring in the gripping crime drama.

Based on the award-winning novel series The Inspector Ikmen Mysteries by Barbara Nadel, The Turkish Detective will make its debut on Sunday, July 7, at 9pm on BBC Two.

This eight-part series follows Inspector Cetin Ikmen (portrayed by Haluk Bilginer) as he solves crimes throughout Istanbul, with each case deeply rooted in the city's history and culture. Let's take a closer look at the BBC series' cast before it premieres this weekend.

Who is in the cast of The Turkish Detective?

Cast of The Turkish Detective

Inspector Cetin Ikmen - Haluk Bilginer

At the centre of The Turkish Detective is Inspector Cetin Ikmen, a hard-drinking, chain-smoking detective who knows exactly how to do his job when it comes to safeguarding his beloved Istanbul.

Inspector Ikmen is brought to life by actor Haluk Bilginer, who EastEnders fans might recognise as Mehmet Osman, the taxi firm owner and older brother to Ali Osman in the 1980s.

Since then, he has had notable roles in Halloween, Alex Rider, Ezel, Baba and Buffalo Soldiers.

Detective Mehmet Suleyman - Ethan Kai

Detective Mehmet Suleyman, the new face in town, finds himself under the supervision of Inspector Ikmen. But how will he adapt to his quirky new boss?

Ethan Kai, known for his roles in Carnival Row, Mount Pleasant and London Kills, is most recognised for his portrayal of Tony in Killing Eve and Kasim Sabet, Finn Barton's ex-boyfriend in Emmerdale.

Detective Ayse Farsakoglu - Yasemin Kay Allen

Upon Mehmet's arrival, Detective Ayse Farsakoglu, portrayed by Yasemin Kay Allen, is already working alongside Inspector Ikmen and knows how to manage him and guides her new colleague.

Yasemin Kay Allen has appeared in Strike Back and played Zuhal in The Usual Suspects. She also has credits in Turkish television shows such as Hayat Devam Ediyor, Water And Fire and Merhamet.

Tarik Sanver - Erol Afsin

Actor Erol Afsin, known for his role as Utku in the award-winning drama Homeland with Claire Danes, and appearances in other shows like Saf, Mustang, SOKO Potsdam and Tatort, plays Tarik Sanver. However, details about his character are still sparse.

Fatma Ikmen - Uygar Tamer

Uygar Tamer, who has had roles in The Teachers' Lounge and Quantum of Solace, plays Fatma Ikmen, believed to be related to the Inspector due to their shared surname.

Other cast members include:

Dilan Gwyn as Leyla Pamuk.

Murat Seven as Abdel Zahle.

Selma Ergec as Selma Payidar.

The Turkish Detective is set to premiere on Sunday, July 7, on BBC Two at 9pm.