PBS boards Prime Suspect prequel

Helen Mirren in the original Prime Suspect

The prequel to crime drama Prime Suspect will air on PBS’s Masterpiece strand in the US following a deal secured by ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVSGE).

Prime Suspect: Tennison, an ITV Studios, NoHo Film and Television and Masterpiece coproduction for UK commercial broadcaster ITV, will portray the early career of detective Jane Tennison.

Dame Helen Mirren played DCI Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect, which ran for seven series on ITV in the 1980s and 90s.

The news comes in advance of the launch of Prime Suspect: Tennison at the Cannes Mipcom market next week.

The six-part series is adapted from the bestselling novel Tennison by author Lynda La Plante.

“PBS was the original US home of Prime Suspect so we are thrilled that they are continuing their association with this brilliant series on Masterpiece,” said Greg Johnson, exec VP of distribution, Americas, who brokered the deal for ITVSGE.