Series four of BBC ONE’s hugely popular drama about a crew of con men has just started filming in and around London and will come to air in 2007 with one major change.  Team leader Mickey Bricks, played by Adrian Lester (centre) will be replaced by a new character with a "so solid" reputation.

The new character – Billy Bond – will be played by ex-So Solid Crew member and star of Bullet Boy Ashley Walters.  Bond has been on the streets since he was a nipper and is a great fan of Danny Blue (Marc Warren).  He wants to get off the street, learn the long con from the masters, and find a surrogate family.

Following the massive international success of Hustle, Adrian Lester has been offered several roles in the US and is unavailable for filming during Hustle’s current schedule.  That must be music to the ears of Danny Blue, who has wanted to supplant Mickey as leader of the team for as long as I can remember.  The new dynamic in the team should give series four a fresh new feel at the same time as having the stability and continuity of most of the original characters.  I’m looking forward to it already!