The consulting detective Gabriel Book will investigate crimes on UKTV’s Alibi.
Updated 18/07/24: Bookish guest stars announced.
With filming now underway in Belgium, UKTV have confirmed a number of guest stars for Bookish.
In episodes 5 & 6 of the series, Paul McGann (Doctor Who) will star as Mr Kind, alongside Tim McInnerny (Blackadder) as ‘D’.
Also appearing are Elizabeth Berrington (Good Omens) as Sylvia Orr, Mark Umbers (Hotel Portofino) as Victor Orr and Angeliki Papoulia (The Lobster) as Princess Ruhije.
Bookish is expected to land in 2025 on the recently rebranded U&alibi.
Updated 29/04/24: Additional casting and a first image as production begins.
With filming underway on Mark Gatiss’ new detective series Bookish, further cast details are emerging.
In the 1940’s set drama, Gatiss himself takes on the lead role of Gabriel Book, with Polly Walker playing his wife Trottie.
With most of the regulars confirmed earlier in the month, we now know that Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners, World on Fire) also appears as Sergeant Morris.
Additionally, several further members of the series guest cast are revealed. They include Rosie Cavaliero (The Power of Parker), Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (Bodies), Tom Forbes (Rules of the Game), Amanda Drew (The Gold) Luke Norris (Poldark), Ella Bruccoleri (Passenger) and Michael Workéyè (This is Going to Hurt).
Bookish is bound for Alibi in 2025. We’ll keep you posted.
Original article (of 11/04/24) continues…
Bookish – Mark Gatiss to write and star in new detective drama
Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss is returning to the genre for a new six-part series. UKTV have announced that he has created Bookish – a 1946 set series about a consulting detective who aids the police.
Gatiss will star as Gabriel Book, with Polly Walker (Line of Duty) playing Book’s colourful wife Trottie.
Here’s what we know about Bookish:
London, 1946 is the dynamic, dangerous and chaotic setting for this stylish new detective drama, with the eccentric Gabriel Book (Gatiss) at the very heart of the story: a self-appointed consultant detective to the local police. The thousands of books that line the shelves of his shop provide him with all the knowledge he needs.
Book has gathered around him a host of lovable, damaged misfits whom he informally protects, cajoles, and mentors. His wife Trottie (Walker) runs the wallpaper shop next door. She’s a charismatic adventuress whom Book loves deeply but not physically, for they are in a ‘lavender’ marriage to help conceal Book’s sexual orientation in a time when it was illegal to be gay.
Bookish marries post-war nostalgia with the reckless and life-affirming atmosphere of the times, creating a fast-paced and stylish detective drama.
The series’ supporting cast are Conor Finch as Jack, Elliot Levey as Inspector Bliss and Buket Kömür as Nora. Plus, there’s a starry guest cast with names announced including Joely Richardson, Daniel Mays and Jonas Nay.
Mark Gatiss has co-written Bookish with Matthew Sweet. The director is Carolina Giammetta (Suspect), the producer us Christopher Arcache (Hotel Portofino). The series comes from Eagle Eye Drama (Professor T).
Bookish is being produced in association with Happy Duck Films and is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter.
Mark Gatiss said:
“To misquote Goodfellas: “All my life I’ve wanted to be a detective!” I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this series to the screen, and to plunge viewers into our intoxicating version of post-War London. It’s an under-examined time and an under-examined world and Bookish is the strange, funny and thrilling show that I’ve always wanted to make.”
We’ll keep you posted on Bookish. The series will air on Alibi in 2025.