Shameless actor David Threlfall has signed up to appear in the next series of period crime drama Ripper Street.

Ripper Street, starring Matthew MacFadyen and Game of Thrones star Jerome Flynn, was originally aired by the BBC but dropped after two series.

US streaming giant Amazon stepped in to keep the show alive funding the third series, which played exclusively to its Prime Instant Video customers and subsequently aired on BBC1.

The success of the show prompted Amazon to commission a fourth and fifth series earlier this year, with Shameless star Threlfall signing up as a new series regular.

Threlfall will star as Abel Croker, an owner of a wharf, described as a “villain and keeper of other men’s secrets”.

“Ripper Street is a sterling example of British drama at its best,” said Jay Marine, vice president Amazon Instant Video EU. “The show is already a huge global hit and with the Amazon cut giving creative freedom on the episode length and the addition of even more world-class talent, we can’t wait to see what season four has in store.”

The fourth series is being made by Tiger Aspect and Lookout Point in association with Brown Bear films for Amazon and BBC Worldwide. It is being co-produced with BBC America.