Stephen Tompkinson is returning to the BBC for the first time in nine years.

The veteran actor will star in new drama 'Truckers' this autumn, his first major role since ITV's 'Wild At Heart' was axed in April.

In the show he will play divorced father-of-one Malachi Davies, who works for a family haulage firm and faces a mid-life crisis.

The show sees him reunite with writer Billy Ivory, who he first worked with on a remake of 'Minder' 20 years ago.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Occasionally, I've been able to say yes to a project without seeing a script. 'Truckers' is up there."

The show's executive producer, Polly Hill, added: "It's brilliant to see Stephen back on the BBC."

Stephen's last role for the BBC was in 2004 when he played newspaper editor Don Hale in 'In Denial of Murder'. He has also had roles in 'Ballykissangel' and 'DCI Banks', in which he played the tough lead character.

Speaking about the latter role, he said he always feels sorry for writers when their characters are transferred to the screen.

He said: "I'm five inches too tall for the Banks, who's described in the books and my eyes are the wrong colour.

"I always feel very sorry for writers when things are transferred from a book to the screen and they sort of lose touch with what they created and say goodbye to the rights.

"It's weird because in no other medium would that happen."

'Truckers' will air later this year.