TVDRAMA
PBS Distribution has bought the North American rights for Mark Gatiss’s detective series Bookish from Eagle Eye Drama.
The six-part series, set in 1946 London, centers on erudite and antiquarian bookshop owner Gabriel Book, who is called upon to help solve puzzling murders and other crimes. Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen, Sherlock) stars in the lead role.
Polly Walker (Bridgerton, Line of Duty) stars alongside him as the bookshop owner’s wife, Trottie, who owns a wallpaper shop next door. Though they love each other deeply, their partnership is a “lavender” marriage because Book is gay.
Other cast members include Connor Finch (Everything I Know About Love), Elliot Levey (We Were the Lucky Ones, Quiz), Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners, World on Fire) and Buket Kömür (Our House).
The lineup of guest stars features Joely Richardson (The Gentleman, The Ballad of Renegade Nell), Daniel Mays (A Thousand Blows, The Long Shadow), Paul McGann (Luther, Withnail & I), Jonas Nay (Deutschland 83, Concordia), Elizabeth Berrington (Doctor Who, The Office), Rosie Cavaliero (Vera Drake, Jane Eyre), Rina Krasniqi (Silence of the Sirens, Okarina). Angeliki Papoulia (Dogtooth, The Lobster), Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (Midas Man, The Queen’s Gambit) and Mark Benton (Patience, Eddie the Eagle).
Bookish is directed by Carolina Giammetta, director of drama at Eagle Eye, and is being produced in association with Happy Duck Films. It is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that PBS Distribution has welcomed Bookish into its domain!” Gatiss said. “The show couldn’t have a more prestigious and legendary ‘partner in crime!’”
“We are delighted to be partnering once again with our colleagues at PBS Distribution on our brand-new Mark Gatiss detective series,” said Jo McGrath, chief creative officer at Eagle Eye Drama. “Over the years, our great editorial and strategic synergy has resulted in teaming up on a range of fantastic returnable procedural series such as ITV’s Professor T and Channel 4’s Patience, not to mention the historical family drama Hotel Portofino, which has wrapped its third season. Mark Gatiss has created a standout, delicious new detective in Gabriel Book, and we are excited to bring his impeccable, sophisticated writing and uniquely and iconically British sensibility to audiences in North America.”
