BritBox Expands Agatha Christie Partnership

During its TCA Winter Press Tour presentation, BritBox revealed it has expanded its partnership with Agatha Christie Limited and Mammoth Screen and unveiled its upcoming slate.

BritBox is already set to debut an adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, directed by Hugh Laurie and starring Will Poulter, Lucy Boynton, Emma Thompson and Jim Broadbent. The extended partnership will see the streaming service commission three more adaptations of the novelist’s works.

“I am thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Agatha Christie Limited and Mammoth Screen for three more adaptations of Agatha Christie’s mysteries,” said Emily Powers, head of BritBox North America. “I look forward to working with each creative team to bring a new unique perspective to Christie’s incredible stories.”

A new deal with All3Media International was also revealed, in which BritBox will co-produce The Confessions of Frannie Langton in North America, Australia and South Africa. The series, set against the opulence of Georgian London, follows Frannie’s journey from a Jamaican plantation to the grand Mayfair mansion.

BritBox also acquired The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe from All3Media International. The series tells the true story of prison officer John Darwin, who was suffocated by debt and pretended to drown in a canoe accident so his wife could make fraudulent claims on their insurance. It is produced by Story Films for ITV, in association with All3Media International.

“We are delighted that BritBox is our U.S. partner on The Confessions of Frannie Langton—the story of Frannie’s journey from Jamaican plantation to the grand world of Mayfair has many contemporary resonances and charms and surprises,” said Caroline Stephenson, senior VP of EMEA at All3Media International. “BritBox’s expansion around the world will see both The Confessions of Frannie Langton and The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe find audiences appreciative of quality drama.”

Also on BritBox’s slate are Sister Boniface Mysteries, a lighthearted murder mystery centered on a crime-solving Catholic nun that premiered February 8; Murder in Provence, based on the books by M.L. Longworth, slated to premiere on March 1; The Barking Murders, a factual drama that sheds new light on the serial killer known as the Grindr Killer, set to debut in June; and The Responder, written by an ex-police officer who reveals the emotional extremes of life on the front line of British policing, premiering on May 24 in the U.S.

New seasons of Traces, The Bay and Grace are also set to come. Traces season two will debut on February 22, with season three of The Bay set to premiere on March 15.

“In just a few short years, BritBox has grown to well over 2 million subscribers and counting,” Powers said. “We’ve been able to do that by letting our content speak for itself. We’re not just acquiring hours to boost catalog, we’ve built out our own commissioning team and are partnering with renowned studios, production companies and talent to make award-worthy, premium co-productions and originals.”