
Further guest stars are now confirmed for Bookish (6x70'), a brand-new drama created by Emmy Award-winning writer Mark Gatiss, for UKTV's specialist crime drama channel Alibi. The series is produced by Eagle Eye Drama and filming is now underway in Belgium. As international partner, Beta Film is handling the world sales.
Paul McGann (Annika, Doctor Who) will star as Mr Kind in episodes 5 and 6, alongside Tim McInnerny (One Day, Ten Percent) as D' , Elizabeth Berrington (Henpocalypse!, Fifteen-Love) as Sylvia Orr, Mark Umbers (Hotel Portofino) as Victor Orr and Angeliki Papoulia (The Lobster) as Princess Ruhije.
Mark Gatiss writes and stars as the erudite and unconventional Gabriel Book who, from his antiquarian bookshop, helps the police to solve a variety of mysterious crimes. With three main cases in the series, each storyline spans two-episode instalments.
London, 1946 is the dynamic, dangerous and chaotic setting for this stylish new detective drama, with the eccentric Gabriel Book (Gatiss) at the very heart of the story: a self-appointed consultant detective to the local police. The thousands of books that line the shelves of his shop provide him with all the knowledge he needs.
Book has gathered around him a host of lovable, damaged misfits whom he informally protects, cajoles, and mentors. His wife Trottie (Polly Walker) runs the wallpaper shop next door. Shes a charismatic adventuress whom Book loves deeply but not physically, for they are in a lavender' marriage to help conceal Book's sexual orientation in a time when it was illegal to be gay.
Bookish marries post-war nostalgia with the reckless and life-affirming atmosphere of the times, creating a fast-paced and stylish detective drama.
The UKTV Original series has been commissioned by Helen Perry, head of drama for UKTV, and ordered by Emma Ayech, channel director for Alibi, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Executive producers for Eagle Eye Drama are Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino. The series is co-written with Matthew Sweet and will be directed by Carolina Giammetta (Suspect S2, Hollington Drive) and produced by Christopher Arcache (Hotel Portofino).
The series is being produced in association with Happy Duck Films and is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter. Bookish will air on Alibi in 2025.
For more information, please contact:Kelly Phelps, Publicity Manager, UKTV
Notes for Editors:
About Alibi
Sky 109/826, Virgin 126/200, BT 312/382, TalkTalk 312, TV Player
On demand on Sky, Virgin, BT and TalkTalk
Alibi is the only TV channel dedicated to crime drama, investigating the best selection from the genre and premiering hit series from around the world such as CSI: Vegas, So Help Me Todd, Dark Winds and Black Sands.
Alibi's offering of UKTV Original crime drama series give viewers guaranteed thrills, twists and turns through hit shows including Annika, starring Nicola Walker, Traces, starring Molly Windsor and Martin Compston and We Hunt Together, starring Eve Myles and Babou Ceesay. Sophie Rundle also leads the cast in Barcelona-set drama, The Diplomat, while Anjli Monindra, Marc Warren and Adjoa Andoh star in the brand-new series from writer Toby Whithouse, The Red King.
Alibi is also home to fan favourites, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Murdoch Mysteries and Hudson and Rex, and gives viewers another chance to catch hugely popular British crime dramas including Death in Paradise, Father Brown and Silent Witness.
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, Gold, Alibi and Eden - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV's content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media.UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UKs most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the worlds leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress
About EAGLE EYE DRAMA
Eagle Eye Drama was formed by Walter Iuzzolino, Jo McGrath and Jason Thorp, the same three founders and creative team behind the global drama company Walter Presents. The company produces dramas and animations, based both on adaptations and original ideas. In 2022, Eagle Eye launched new Belgian based company Happy Duck Films.
Follow Eagle Eye Drama on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
About BETA FILM
Owned by Jan Mojto since 2004, Beta Film produces, finances and distributes high-end entertainment content for the global market utilizing extensive connections and a deep knowledge of the media industry. It draws on both long-standing and new partnerships spanning public and private broadcasters, streaming platforms and special interest channels, production companies, theatrical and video distributors, and organizers of major film and TV festivals. Founded in 1959 by Leo Kirch, Beta Film is based in Munich, Germany with bureaus in the US, Latin America, Middle East, China and throughout Europe.
Follow Beta Film on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
More from UKTV
08/05/2025
Comedy and entertainment channel U&Dave bring back their #1 ranked programme of ...
07/05/2025
UKTV has ordered a feature length documentary celebrating the life of Britain...
30/04/2025
Damien Molony will head back to Jersey for a second series of Bergerac, written by Toby Whithouse alongside Ashley Sanders, Emilie Robson and Faebian Averies
D...
29/04/2025
UKTV has acquired the UK premiers of The Hunting Party, the new hit crime proced...
25/04/2025
Hit DOG-umentary Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake is recommissioned by U&W for two...
24/04/2025
Edmond Dant s (Sam Claflin)
The eight-part miniseries will be available this Su...
22/04/2025
The six-part series will be available on U and U&DRAMA from 19th June
Outrageous is produced by Firebird Pictures and created and written by Sarah Williams
(L...
07/04/2025
New series from BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions will see the presente...
18/03/2025
Virgin Media O2 and UKTV have renewed their long-standing partnership in the UK with a multi-year deal securing carriage for UKTV's highly popular pay chann...
03/02/2025
UKTV has acquired the UK premier of Side Hustlers, the US business reality series produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, part of...
27/01/2025
One family's extreme existence working the treacherous northern waters of Australia is the subject of new series from McAvoy Media.
UKTV has commissioned a...
20/01/2025
Elbow lead singer and Radio 6 Music presenter, Guy Garvey, provides the voiceover for a new TV series on U&Dave and free streaming service U later this month.
...
16/01/2025
UKTV more than doubles views to its free streaming service U in just two years (...
14/01/2025
Leading multi-channel broadcaster UKTV has today announced it has invested in Re...
08/01/2025
UKTV and BBC Studios have appointed Sophie Judge to the role of Global Acquisitions Manager, further strengthening their combined expertise as a world-class hub...
19/12/2024
UKTV today releases a first look teaser for the upcoming re-imagined series of Bergerac (6x60') on U and U&DRAMA. The six-part U&Original series is produced...
18/12/2024
UKTV has commissioned two new series from Prospero Productions. Brit Cops Down Under (8x60) for U&W and The Legend of Outback Gold (w/t) (6x60) for U&YESTERDAY ...
11/12/2024
UKTV has appointed Emma Tibbetts as its new Director of Programming for Drama, as it finalises changes to the structure of its programming team in line with pla...
03/12/2024
Keir Starmer, Oasis & and Gareth Southgate all feature in this years top 10 gags
TV channel U&Gold challenged the nation to come up with the best topical Chris...
21/11/2024
Installation includes hidden clues of the show's best and funniest moments a...
21/11/2024
THE VICAR OF DIBLEY CELEBRATES 30 YEARS, WITH UNVEILING OF GIANT STAINED-GLASS INSPIREDART INSTALLATION
Installation includes hidden clues of the show's be...
07/11/2024
UKTV has today completed the rollout of its new U Masterbrand with the commercia...
04/11/2024
Jim Bergerac's iconic Triumph Roadster is set to feature in the upcoming re-...
22/10/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original series, Bookish (6x60') on specialist crime drama channel, Alibi. The brand...
10/10/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original...
08/10/2024
Neil Morrissey and Martin Clunes are to reunite for factual entertainment series Neil & Martin's Bon Voyage (3x60') produced by Expectation for Gold, th...
24/09/2024
Fan-favourite Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators has started filming ...
23/09/2024
- Renewed agreement sees UKTV pay channels, Alibi and Gold, together with its free channel portfolio, available to Sky customers
- Gold & Alibi also available ...
19/09/2024
UKTV has commissioned the new series, Classic Car Kings (6x60'), for leading factual channel U&YESTERDAY and free streaming service, U. The six-part series ...
18/09/2024
Johnny Vegas & Lucy Beaumont and Babatunde Al sh & Kae Kurd arethecomedians taking part in brand new episodes of World's Most Dangerous Roads, which return...
18/09/2024
The nation's favourite comedy channel, Gold, is set to take a reflective loo...
17/09/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images captured in Jersey for the upcoming re-imagined series of Bergerac (6x60') for U and U&DRAMA. The six-p...
16/09/2024
UKTV and Everyone TV - the organisation leading the evolution of free TV in the ...
05/09/2024
Nina Sosanya, Samantha Womack, Hugh Quarshie, Patrick Robinson and many more joi...
04/09/2024
UKTV today announces the acquisition of Hotel Portofino (2 x 6x60') for U an...
28/08/2024
UKTV has commissioned another new series of Canal Boat Diaries (10x60) for leading factual channel U&YESTERDAY and free streaming service, U, having licensed th...
27/08/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original series, I, Jack Wright (6x60') on specialist crime drama channel, Alibi. Th...
22/08/2024
Notorious New Orleans womens prison to open its doors for new documentary series.
TV presenter, Katie Piper returns to U&W to once again uncover life for women...
22/08/2024
UKTV is excited to announce the commission of the new series, Guy Martin's P...
19/08/2024
U&DAVE'S JOKE OF THE FRINGE 2024
10 FUNNIEST GAGS OF THE 2024 EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL REVEALED
Comedian Mark Simmons wins U&Dave's Funniest Joke of...
15/08/2024
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original series, Outrageous (6x60') on U and U&DRAMA. The brand-new drama, created a...
01/08/2024
UKTV's free streaming service, U, to get exclusive Bangers & Cash specials f...
31/07/2024
UKTV has commissioned popular factual label Red Sauce, part of Zinc Media Group, to make a further two seasons of its gritty factual series Special Ops: To Catc...
24/07/2024
UKTV has commissioned The Young Midwives of Essex (8x60) from Firecracker Films (Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies). This brand-new docu...
23/07/2024
UKTV has commissioned brand-new Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake (4x60') for free-to-air entertainment channel U&W, and recently rebranded free streaming serv...
22/07/2024
Portraits of Joe Swash, Chris Kamara and Angela Barnes created using scrap car parts
Portraits of Joe Swash, Chris Kamara and Angela Barnes made entirely of sc...
22/07/2024
UKTV has commissioned The Real Midwives of Essex (8x60) from Firecracker Films (Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies). This brand-new docu-...
22/07/2024
Award-winning broadcaster UKTV has today announced it has invested in the UKs fi...
22/07/2024
A Small Light, Mike, Alaska Daily, The Company You Keep, Sons of Anarchy S1-7, B...
22/07/2024
Award-winning broadcaster UKTV has today announced it has invested in the award-...