The Chelsea Detective Set for Acorn TV

AMC Networks’ Acorn TV and ZDF have commissioned the U.K. drama The Chelsea Detective from Expectation (In My Skin, Guilt).

Created by Peter Fincham, the 4×90-minute series stars Adrian Scarborough (Gavin & Stacey, Killing Eve) as Detective Inspector Max Arnold, who lives on a battered houseboat at the end of Cheyne Walk after separating from his art dealer wife Astrid (Anamaria Marinca). The son of a local bookshop owner, Max is a far cry from the affluent elite whose crimes he’ll help solve along with D.C. Priya Shamsie (Sonita Henry).

The feature-length episodes are written by Glen Laker (Vera, Prime Suspect), Fincham and Liz Lake (Riviera, Call the Midwife). Production will begin in April 2021. Acorn TV will feature its world premiere in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, among others in 2022. BBC Studios is distributing the series internationally.

Catherine Mackin, managing director of Acorn Media Enterprises, noted: “We’re thrilled to work with ZDF, Expectation and BBC Studios on this riveting U.K. mystery series set in and around picturesque Chelsea as we follow this fascinating detective both on the clock during his investigations and at home on his houseboat. Acorn TV is thrilled to have Adrian Scarborough in the lead role and we’re confident that our subscribers worldwide will be captivated by this charismatic drama.”

Dr. Simone Emmelius, senior VP of international fiction co-production and acquisition at ZDF, said: “As a first outcome of our joint development activities with BBC Studios, The Chelsea Detective coincidentally is our first co-production with Acorn, too. This promising show perfectly expands our portfolio of high-quality international crime series, and I’m confident it will find an enthusiastic audience in Germany.”

Peter Fincham, executive producer, commented: “Working with Acorn, ZDF and BBC Studios to realize the vision for the series has been truly exciting. Chelsea is the perfect precinct for a long-running crime series—it’s known for its wealth and history, but there’s so much more to it than that. Our brilliant cast will be taking the viewers to unexpected places and meeting some unlikely characters.”