Acorn TV, C5 solve PD James mysteries

AMC Networks’ Acorn TV and ViacomCBS-owned Channel 5 in the UK have commissioned a detective drama based on PD James’ Inspector Dalgliesh murder mystery novels.

Bertie Carvel

Produced by All3Media-owned New Pictures (Des, The Missing) and Acorn Media Enterprises, Dalgliesh (6×60′) will premiere exclusively on Acorn TV in North America, New Zealand and Australia and air on Channel 5 in the UK in 2021.

The three two-part films will star Bertie Carvel (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell) in the lead role of Inspector Adam Dalgliesh.

Starting in mid 1970s England, the crime series is told from the perspective of the enigmatic detective and follows his career to the present day as he solves unusual murders and reveals buried secrets. Each murder mystery will be set in a different location and features a different cast.

All3Media International will distribute the series, which has received additional funding from Northern Ireland Screen, with production due to begin in December in Northern Ireland.

The lead scribe is screenwriter and playwright Helen Edmundson (Mary Magdalene) and Dalgliesh will be directed by film and television director Jill Robertson (Humans, Grantchester), produced by Georgie Fallon (Criminal, Mum) and executive produced by Elaine Pyke of New Pictures.

Sebastian Cardwell, Channel 5’s deputy director of programmes at ViacomCBS Networks UK, described PD James, who died in 2014, as one of Britain’s great crime writers.