Apple orders first UK comedy

Rafe Spall and Esther Smith in Trying

Apple has added to its line-up of original programming with its first comedy series from the UK and season two renewals for Home Before Dark and Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet.

UK comedy Trying (8×30′) will premiere in its entirety exclusively on Apple TV+ on May 1 and stars Rafe Spall and Esther Smith as a couple who are trying for a baby.

The series, which comes from BBC Studios and is described by Apple as “heartfelt and hilarious,” is written by Andy Wolton and also stars Bafta winner Imelda Staunton.

Apple ordered its first UK scripted series last year with Slow Horses, a spy story starring Academy Award winner Gary Oldman.

Out of the US, meanwhile, Apple has picked up Defending Jacob, starring Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery, the first three episodes of which will premiere on April 24.

Based on the best-selling novel by William Landay, the limited drama series unfolds around a shocking crime that rocks a small Massachusetts town. It follows an assistant district attorney who finds himself torn between his sworn duty to uphold justice and his unconditional love for his son.

Defending Jacob is based on a novel by William Landay

It is produced by Paramount Television Studios and Anonymous Content, and created, written and executive produced by Mark Bomback, who also serves as showrunner.

Elsewhere, Apple has renewed mystery series Home Before Dark ahead of the global premiere of its first three episodes on April 3.

The show’s first three episodes will air on Friday April 3 exclusively on Apple TV+ and new eps will debut every Friday.

The series follows a young girl who moves from Brooklyn to the small lakeside town her father left behind. While there, her dogged pursuit of the truth leads her to unearth a cold case that everyone in town, including her own father, tried hard to bury. It is produced by Paramount Television Studios and Anonymous Content.

The tech giant has also renewed Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet (9×30′), which follows a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game, for a second season.

Co-created by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Megan Ganz, it premieres on February 7 on Apple TV+ and is produced by Lionsgate/3 Arts Entertainment and Ubisoft.

The two series join other Apple originals Little America, Dickinson, See, Servant and For All Mankind in being renewed for second runs.

These come as Apple announced the premiere date for Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories, from Amblin Television and Universal Television, which will launch with five episodes on March 6.