BBC, Lovefilm eye Ripper revival

UK pubcaster the BBC is exploring ways of reviving axed crime drama Ripper Street after reportedly discussing the show’s future with Amazon-owned Lovefilm.

Ripper Street

Coproduced by Tiger Aspect Productions and Lookout Point, the series concludes its run on BBC1 next week after it was axed midway through its second season following a plunge in ratings.

Set in Victorian London, Ripper Street stars Matthew Macfadyen, Jerome Flynn and Adam Rothenberg as detectives solving grisly crimes. Cast and fans alike were shocked by the BBC’s decision to end the show.

But now it looks like the Beeb is having a rethink, though financing is clearly at issue.

In a statement, the pubcaster said today it was “looking at partnerships that could enable Ripper Street to return but at better value to licence fee payers.”

Lovefilm – which has this year taken first-run rights to drama series including Vikings and Copper – is reportedly the focus of conversations, though the company declined to comment on the matter.

A Tiger Aspect spokesman would not be drawn but said: “The creative team have great vision and high ambition for future series of Ripper Street. It would of course be marvelous to find a route to make these plans reality.”

It would be the first time a subscription VoD service in the UK has revived a show, though Netflix in the US extended crime thriller The Killing into a fourth season after AMC axed the series and has also brought back cancelled Fox comedy Arrested Development.