BBC picks up RTÉ’s Irish true-crime drama The Murder of Mr Moonlight

The Murder of Mr Moonlight centres on the death of DJ Bobby Ryan

UK public broadcaster the BBC has acquired Irish factual drama The Murder of Mr Moonlight, which is said to recount one of the most compelling true-crime cases in recent Irish history.

The 5×60’ series was produced by Conker Pictures and Samson Films for its original commissioner, Irish pubcaster RTÉ, in association with the BBC, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán.

The story follows County Tipperary DJ and entertainer Bobby Ryan – nicknamed Mr Moonlight – who disappeared in June 2011, with his body eventually being discovered on a farm in April 2013.

Patrick Quirke was convicted of Ryan’s murder in 2019 and jailed for life. The series is based on Catherine Fegan’s book The Murder of Mr Moonlight and explores the human story behind a criminal investigation that gripped a nation.

Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) stars as Ryan, alongside Sinéad Keenan (Unforgotten) as Mary Lowry, Ryan’s girlfriend, and Owen McDonnell (Killing Eve, Bad Sisters) as Quirke.

The series will air on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer. Banijay Rights is handling international distribution.

David Crean, head of drama at RTÉ, said: “Malcolm Campbell has written a compelling story about the tragedy of Bobby Ryan. This moving human story is brought to life with the help of an amazing cast and directed with real sensitivity by Dathaí Keane and Rachel Carey.”