Mark Gatiss Writing & Starring In UKTV Drama About Crime-Solving Bookshop Owner
10.04.2024 - 07:31
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Sherlock star Mark Gatiss is writing and starring in a British TV drama about a bookshop owner who helps police solve crimes.
Bookish will be a six-part series for UKTV crime drama network Alibi set in post-war London in 1946. Gatiss, the co-creator of BBC shows such as Sherlock and The League of Gentlemen and Netflix/BBC’s Dracula and actor in films including Operation Mincemeat and Mission Impossible — Dead Reckoning, is the creator.
The series will follow Gabriel Book (Gatiss), an “erudite and unconventional” sleuth who cracks mysterious cases from his antiquated bookshop, using the thousands of books that line his shelves to provide him with the knowledge that he needs. Around him are a gathering of “loveable, damaged misfits who he informally protects, cajoles and mentors.”
Starring alongside Gatiss is Polly Walker (Bridgerton, Line of Duty), who plays Book’s colourful wife Trottie. She is charismatic and adventurous, owns a wallpaper shop next door and loves Book deeply but not physically. They shares a ‘lavender’ marriage, which helps conceals Book’s sexual orientation at a time when it was illegal to be gay.
Guest stars include Joely Richardson (The Gentleman, The Ballad of Renegade Nell), Daniel Mays (The Long Shadow, Code 404) and Jonas Nay (Deutschland 83, Concordia). Other core cast members include Connor Finch (Everything I Know About Love) as Jack, Olivier award-winner Elliot Levey (We Were the Lucky Ones, Quiz) as Inspector Bliss and Buket Kömür (Our House) as Nora.
Each case will span two 70-minute episodes and will, according to producers marry “post-war nostalgia with the reckless and life-affirming atmosphere of the times.”
Hotel Portofino producer Eagle Eye Drama is attached to make the