Recipes for Love and Murder Set for M-Net, Acorn TV

Principal photography has begun on the South African murder mystery series Recipes for Love and Murder from Both Worlds Pictures for M-Net and Acorn TV, with Global Screen handling international distribution.

M-Net has the exclusive rights to the series in Africa, with plans to launch it in March. Acorn TV will bring the show to the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and New Zealand throughout 2022. Global Screen is handling distribution for the rest of the world.

Maria Doyle Kennedy (Outlander, Orphan Black, Kin) stars as a recipe advice columnist for a small-town gazette who investigates the murder of one of her correspondents. The show hails from Cape Town-based Both Worlds Pictures, in collaboration with Pirate Production in Scotland. Directed by Christiaan Olwagen and David Isaacs, the series is based on Sally Andrew’s acclaimed novel Recipes for Love and Murder: A Tannie Maria Mystery.

Catherine Mackin, managing director of Acorn Media Enterprises, noted, “Recipes for Love and Murder has just the perfect ingredients for a rich, appetizing mystery drama, and the beloved Maria Doyle Kennedy will make a wonderful fit as the empathetic recipe advice columnist with a mysterious past. We look forward to bringing this first-ever TV dramatization of Sally Andrew’s renowned novels to life. This series is a prime example of the kind of fascinating, masterfully-written stories set around the globe which we’re proud to offer on Acorn TV.”

Thierry Cassuto of Both Worlds Pictures added, “We are thrilled to partner with M-Net, Acorn and Global Screen to produce this ambitious series brilliantly adapted by Karen Jeynes from the delicious Sally Andrew novels. Viewers can look forward to a dazzling cast and a very intriguing story with a unique tone, which brings together small-town life, murder, love and mouth-watering food, which our extraordinarily talented director Christiaan Olwagen likes to present as The Killing meets Chocolat.”

Yolisa Phahle, CEO of general entertainment and connected video for MultiChoice, noted, “We are proud to be working with South Africa’s talented writer Karen Jeynes and award-winning directors Christiaan Olwagen and David Isaacs. This partnership will continue to put MultiChoice on the forefront of high-quality African television that promotes our ongoing commitment of being Africa’s most-loved storyteller.”