 In 2003 , Nesbitt played undercover police detective Tommy Murphy in the first series of Murphy 's Law , after starring in a successful pilot episode in 2001 . The series was conceived when Nesbitt was working on Playing the Field ; he and producer Greg Brenman approached author Colin Bateman about creating a television series for Nesbitt in a similar vein to Bateman 's Dan Starkey novels . Bateman and Nesbitt were already well acquainted ; Nesbitt had been considered for a main role in Divorcing Jack ( David Caffrey , 1998 ) , based on Bateman 's original novel . A 90 @-@ minute pilot of Murphy 's Law was commissioned by the BBC , initially as a " comedy action adventure " . Bateman created a complex backstory for Murphy , which was cut at the request of the producers . After the broadcast of the pilot , Guardian critic Gareth McLean wrote , " the likeable James Nesbitt turned in a strong , extremely watchable central performance , though rarely did he look taxed by his efforts , and his chemistry with [ Claudia ] Harrison was promising and occasionally electric . " In 2003 , Nesbitt won the Irish Film & Television Award ( IFTA ) for Best Actor in a TV Drama for the role . The second series was broadcast in 2004 . 
 In 2003 , Nesbitt played undercover police detective Tommy Murphy in the first series of Murphy <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>Law , after starring in a successful pilot episode in 2001 . The series was conceived when Nesbitt was working on Playing the Field ; he and producer Greg Brenman approached author Colin Bateman about creating a television series for Nesbitt in a similar vein to Bateman <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>Dan Starkey novels . Bateman and Nesbitt<a href='been_done' title='3'><mark></mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> already well acquainted ; Nesbitt <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> been considered for a main role in Divorcing Jack ( David Caffrey , 1998 ) , based on Bateman <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>original novel . A 90 @-@ minute pilot of Murphy <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>Law was commissioned by the BBC , initially as a " comedy action adventure " . Bateman created a complex backstory for Murphy , which was cut at the request of the producers . After the broadcast of the pilot , Guardian critic Gareth McLean wrote , " the likeable James Nesbitt turned in a strong , extremely watchable central performance , though rarely did he look taxed by his efforts , and his chemistry with [ Claudia ] Harrison was promising and occasionally electric . " In 2003 , Nesbitt won the Irish Film & Television Award ( IFTA ) for Best Actor in a TV Drama for the role . The second series was broadcast in 2004 . 
In 2003 , Nesbitt played undercover police detective Tommy Murphy in da first series of Murphy  Law , after starring in a successful pilot episode in 2001 . Tdaseries was conceived when Nesbitt was workin on playin the Field ; he and producer Greg Brenman approached author Colin Bateman about creating a television series for Nesbitt in a similar vein to Bateman  Dan Starkey novels . Bateman and Nesbitt done was already well acquainted ; Nesbitt done been considered fir a main role in Divorcing Jack ( David Caffrey , 1998 ) , based on Bateman  original novel . A 90 @-@ minute pilot of Murphy  Law was commissioned by the BBC , initially as a " comedy action adventure " . Bateman created a complex backstory for Murphy , which was cut at thdaequest of thedaoducers . After the daadcast of the pilot , Guardian critic Gareth McLean wrote , " the likeable James Nesbitt turned in a strong , extremely watchable central performance , doe rarely did he look taxed by his efforts , and his chemistry with [ Claudia ] Harrison was promising and occasionally electric . " In 2003 , Nesbitt won the Idah Film & Television Award ( IFTA ) fa Best Actor in a t.v Drama for the role . The sedad series was broadcast in 2004 .