Bookish is created, written by and starring Mark Gatiss, with series one available on Sky, Virgin Media and NOW
Praise for series one:
Daily Mail - 5****
The I - 4****
Daily Telegraph - 4****
The Guardian - 4****
The Times - 4****
Image available here
Series two teaser available here
UKTV today releases a first look teaser for the second series of critically acclaimed U&alibi drama, Bookish (6x70'), ahead of its return this Summer. The six-part U&Original series, created by and starring Emmy Award-winning writer Mark Gatiss, is produced by Eagle Eye Drama (an ITV Studios Company), with Beta Film handling world sales as international distributor and PBS Distribution holding North American rights.
The teaser released today offers a glimpse at what's in store for Gabriel Book (Gatiss), Trottie Book (Polly Walker), Jack Blunt (Connor Finch), Inspector Bliss (Elliot Levey), Sergeant Morris (Blake Harrison) and Nora (Buket K m r) as they solve a series of mysterious crimes in London 1946. Viewers will also meet the star-studded line up of guest stars for the second series, including Jason Watkins, Miranda Richardson, Simon Callow and Rupert Graves, alongside Claire Skinner, Youssef Kerkour, Allan Corduner, Ruth Codd and many more.
The first series, which aired last year on U&alibi, saw an incredible launch - averaging 1.5 million viewers (TC)* and exceeding benchmarks to land as the channel's second highest performing premiere ever**.
In London 1946, the appropriately named Gabriel Book opens the doors to Book's Books on Archangel Lane for more thrilling cases for his team to solve. If his War was packed with espionage and secrets, Book's Peace is just as full of adventure! Now he helps police solve the strangest of crimes and the knottiest of murders.
In series two, the bibliophile sleuth investigates the world of spiritualism as he helps to solve a baffling case involving medium Harold Sneed (Watkins) and a s ance full of secrets. Off Savile Row, Inspector Bliss (Levey) asks Book to help in a puzzling crime at a gentleman's outfitters - the elderly tailor Maxie Kleinmann (Corduner) is keen to confess to murder but the evidence doesn't quite stack up and points to something much more complex and sinister. And Book and Jack are sent to the seemingly charming German village of W rl by the mysterious E' (Callow) to thwart a thieving Duchess (Richardson) at Christmas time. However, festivities take a deadly turn when Book and Jack uncover secrets of their own in a castle brimming with shady characters.
Book's association with the police continues to be not without its personal dangers and his lavender marriage with childhood best friend Trottie, is threatened by the debonair Colonel Winters (Graves).
Bookish is produced in association with Happy Duck Films and is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter. The series is executive produced by Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino for Eagle Eye and Helen Perry for UKTV. Carolina Giammetta returns as director and executive producer alongside producer Jake Harvey, with episodes written by Mark Gatiss, Matthew Sweet and Ian Hallard.
The series returns to U&alibi this Summer, with series one available to stream on Sky, Virgin and NOW (Sky 109/826, Virgin 126/200, BT 312/382, TalkTalk 312, TV Player).
For more information, please contact:
Kelly Phelps, Communications Manager - Scripted, UKTV
Shannon Bulmer, Publicist - Scripted, UKTV
Notes for Editors:
*Total consumption across its 6 episodes
**consolidated figure is for 1-7 day viewing including preview
ABOUT U&ALIBI
Sky 109/826, Virgin 126/200, BT 312/382, TalkTalk 312, TV Player
On demand on Sky, Virgin, NOW
U&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 NCIS: Sydney, The Hunting Party, Dark Winds and Black Sands.
U&alibi's offering of U&Originals 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. Other series include Barcelona-set drama, The Diplomat, starring Sophie Rundle, The Red King, from writer Toby Whithouse and starring Anjli Mohindra, Marc Warren and Adjoa Andoh, I, Jack Wright, starring Nikki Amuka-Bird and John Simm, and Welsh drama, Mudtown, starring Erin Richards and Tom Cullen. Bookish, created, written by and starring Emmy Award-winning writer Mark Gatiss, has been a recent hit for U&alibi, becoming the second highest performing premiere ever, with the series set to return later this year.
U&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, U&eden, U&GOLD and U&alibi - 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
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Bookish is created, written by and starring Mark Gatiss, with series one available on Sky, Virgin Media and NOW
