EXCLUSIVE: Sherlock star Mark Gatiss is writing and starring in a British TV drama a couple of bookshop proprietor who helps police clear up crimes.
Bookish might be a six-part sequence for UKTV crime drama community Alibi set in post-war London in 1946. Gatiss, the co-creator of BBC exhibits reminiscent of Sherlock and The League of Gents and Netflix/BBC’s Dracula and actor in movies together with Operation Mincemeat and Mission Not possible — Useless Reckoning, is the creator.
The sequence will observe Gabriel E book (Gatiss), an “erudite and unconventional” sleuth who cracks mysterious circumstances from his antiquated bookshop, utilizing the 1000’s of books that line his cabinets to supply him with the information that he wants. Round him are a gathering of “loveable, broken misfits who he informally protects, cajoles and mentors.”
Starring alongside Gatiss is Polly Walker (Bridgerton, Line of Responsibility), who performs E book’s vibrant spouse Trottie. She is charismatic and adventurous, owns a wallpaper store subsequent door and loves E book deeply however not bodily. They shares a ‘lavender’ marriage, which helps conceals E book’s sexual orientation at a time when it was unlawful to be homosexual.
Visitor stars embrace Joely Richardson (The Gentleman, The Ballad of Renegade Nell), Daniel Mays (The Lengthy Shadow, Code 404) and Jonas Nay (Deutschland 83, Concordia). Different core solid members embrace Connor Finch (Every part I Know About Love) as Jack, Olivier award-winner Elliot Levey (We Had been the Fortunate Ones, Quiz) as Inspector Bliss and Buket Kömür (Our Home) as Nora.
Every case will span two 70-minute episodes and can, based on producers marry “post-war nostalgia with the reckless and life-affirming ambiance of the instances.”
Lodge Portofino producer Eagle Eye Drama is connected to make the present, which has a 2025 airdate on Alibi. Germany’s Beta Movie has worldwide distribution rights. The sequence is produced in affiliation with Belgium-based Completely happy Duck Movies, which is a part of the Eagle Eye steady, and is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter.
Government producers for Eagle Eye are Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino, and the sequence is co-written with Matthew Candy. Carolina Giammetta (Suspect season 2, Hollington Drive) is the director and Christopher Arcache (Lodge Portofino) is the producer.
UKTV Head of Drama Helen Perry produced commissioned the present, which was ordered by Alibi Channel Director Emma Ayech. The BBC Studios-owned broadcaster is behind crime exhibits such because the Nicola Walker-starring Annika, Molly Windsor and Martin Compston automobile Traces and the Barcelona-set drama The Diplomat.
“UKTV is the house for writers’ ardour initiatives, and we’re so proud to be working with the exceptionally proficient Mark Gatiss on his, together with the bubbling workforce at Eagle Eye,” mentioned Perry. “Mark’s distinctive detective thriller is filled with wit and coronary heart, with a central platonic love story that’s positive to enthral audiences. And since E book is a homosexual man, at a time when it was unlawful to be so, we’re proud that the drama shines a lightweight on an vital LGBTQ+ story. The star-studded solid Eagle Eye have already put collectively is tribute to the sure-fire hit Bookish is to change into.”
“To misquote Goodfellas: ‘All my life I’ve wished to be a detective!’,” mentioned Gatiss. “I couldn’t be extra excited to be bringing this sequence to the display screen, and to plunge viewers into our intoxicating model of post-Struggle London. It’s an under-examined time and an under-examined world and Bookish is the unusual, humorous and thrilling present that I’ve at all times wished to make.”
McGrath, Chief Artistic Officer for Eagle Eye Drama, added: “There are some characters, some concepts that simply leap off the web page and demand to be realised. E book, Trottie and the intelligent crimes Mark Gatiss has woven across the precinct of Archangel Lane is a type of initiatives. The reply to each crime might be present in a e-book and in Bookish, Mark Gatiss has created a novel, memorable and stand out new detective sequence.”
Beta’s Chief Distribution Officer, Oliver Bachert, mentioned the present was “positive to change into a terrific instance of a classy crime drama and instantaneous traditional for audiences around the globe.”
Gatiss is repped by Curtis Brown. Walker is repped by The Artists Partnership.