Romola Garai joins Shaun Evans in ITV thriller BETRAYAL, as filming begins in the North West
ITV and Mammoth Screen have announced the start of filming for Betrayal, a gripping new espionage thriller and relationship drama set in the shadowy world of MI5.
Bringing this four-part thriller to life is BAFTA and Emmy-nominated director Julian Jarrold (A Very Royal Scandal, This England), with production currently underway in Manchester and Liverpool.
Starring Shaun Evans (Until I Kill You, Endeavour, Vigil) as John Hughes, the series explores the strain modern intelligence work places on MI5 operatives. Regarded by his colleagues as out of touch with the times, John must navigate a world of secrets and surveillance while also confronting the unravelling of his personal life — exposing the emotional cost of a profession where loyalty is fragile and betrayal can strike from any direction.
Joining Shaun is acclaimed film, television and theatre actress Romola Garai, who this year was nominated for two Olivier Awards, winning for The Years. Romola plays John’s partner, Claire, whose trust in him is strained by the secrecy and demands of his work.
Shaun and Romola are joined by Zahra Ahmadi (Beyond Paradise, The Bay) and Nikki Amuka-Bird (I, Jack Wright, Rumours), alongside Gamba Cole (The Outlaws, Three Little Birds), Omid Djalili (The Letter for the King, His Dark Materials), Matthew Tennyson (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Grantchester), Hayley Tamaddon (Unforgotten, Coronation Street), Anthony Flanagan (Protection, House of the Dragon), Paddy Rowan (G’wed, Four Lives), Waj Ali (Out There, Dead & Buried), Karim Kadjar (Wolf Hall), Emma Cunniffe (Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, The Long Shadow), Georgina Rylance (Benediction, Sherlock), Ben Lambert (Outlander, The Crown), Julia Watson (Doctor Who, Doctors) and Julian Wadham (Black Doves, The Crown). Television newcomers Elham Karimpour, Aidan Rivers, Corin Silva and Eliza Agrosoaie also join the cast.
Betrayal is written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter David Eldridge. David has two forthcoming plays opening later this year - End, the final part of his acclaimed trilogy for the National Theatre, and his adaptation of John Le Carre’ The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, at the Soho Place.
Produced by Irma Inniss (Mr Loverman, The Bay) Betrayal follows John Hughes (Shaun Evans), a mid-career MI5 officer grappling with a rapidly changing security landscape and his own personal demons. When John’s clandestine encounter with a potential British-Iranian informant ends in bloodshed, he comes under scrutiny from superiors including Simone Grant (Nikki Amuka-Bird). As John navigates the murky world of espionage, the strain on his marriage to GP Claire (Romola Garai) becomes increasingly unsustainable.
Tensions escalate further with the arrival of Mehreen Askari-Evans (Zahra Ahmadi), a sharp, ambitious operative who has recently transferred from MI6, challenging both his professional standing and emotional control.
Produced by Mammoth Screen, the ITV Studios label behind the critically acclaimed drama Code of Silence, Betrayal is also produced in association with Navarino Pictures.
The series is executive produced by Mammoth’s founder and Chief Creative Officer Damien Timmer, alongside David Eldridge, Shaun Evans, Julian Jarrold and Tom Leggett. The show was developed by Rebecca Keane, Mammoth’s Creative Director.
Commissioned for ITV by Polly Hill, Director of Drama, Polly and Drama Commissioner, Huw Kennair Jones, oversee the production on behalf of the broadcaster.
Production company Mammoth Screen is part of ITV Studios, which will distribute the series internationally.
Betrayal will premiere on ITV1, STV, ITVX, and STV Player in 2026.
ITV Celebrates Best Sunday of 2025 with Code of Silence
The launch of Code of Silence, coupled with the Britain's Got Talent semi final, gave ITV its best Sunday night of 2025.
The first episode of the new crime drama series, starring the acclaimed Rose Ayling Ellis, consolidated with 6.1 million viewers.
The programme has been dubbed ‘thriller of the year’ and a ‘landmark moment for inclusion and representation.’
Britain's Got Talent meanwhile continued with a consolidated 4.3 million viewers, while the series is averaging 6 million viewers.
Both series are available on ITVX.
The Forsytes Season 2 Commissioned by MASTERPIECE on PBS
Star Studded Ensemble Cast Are Joined by Richard Rankin as Filming Begins on the Second Season
[June 12, 2025 – Boston, MA]: The Forsytes, Debbie Horsfield’s reimagining of John Galsworthy’s Nobel Prize winning book series The Forsyte Saga, is to return for a gripping second season. In this next chapter the proud dynasty faces a new era of scandal, ambition, and shifting loyalties. As love, legacy and reputation collide, the cracks in the family’s polished façade grow ever deeper.
The Forsytes Season 1 is scheduled to premiere on MASTERPIECE on PBS in 2026. In the UK, 5 will premiere the season later this year. Season 2 is currently filming in and around Bristol, U.K. and will air on MASTERPIECE on PBS in the U.S. and 5 in the U.K.
Returning cast members in the rich ensemble include Francesca Annis (Flesh and Blood), Jack Davenport (The Morning Show), Tom Durant Prichard (Miss Scarlet), Naomi Frederick (Industry), Jamie Flatters (Avatar: The Way of Water), Millie Gibson (Doctor Who), Danny Griffin (Fate: The Winx Saga), Owen Igiehon (Disclaimer), Eleanor Jackson (Royal Mob), Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey: A New Era), Justine Moore (Call the Midwife), Stephen Moyer (True Blood), Joshua Orpin (Titans), Eleanor Tomlinson (One Day) as well as three-time Emmy Award winning Susan Hampshire, who starred in the celebrated 1960s BBC version of The Forsyte Saga.
Richard Rankin (Outlander, Rebus), Sarah Alexander (Pennyworth, Jonathan Creek) and Nia Ashi (Bob Marley: One Love) join the ensemble for The Forsytes Season 2.
Damien Timmer, CCO & Founder of Mammoth Screen said
“We can’t wait for the world to see series 1 of The Forsytes, and we’re so pleased to be getting ahead of ourselves and starting on this thrilling second series with Debbie Horsfield’s irresistible scripts and our glorious – and ever expanding – cast.”
Head of Scripted Content & Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE Susanne Simpson notes
“We’re so pleased with the first season of The Forsytes that we’re thrilled to continue the story into season 2 with our stellar cast. We’re confident that our MASTERPIECE audience will quickly come to love the intrigue, romance and drama that this series brilliantly brings to the screen.”
MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by GBH Boston.
BBC announces Agatha Christie’s Endless Night, adapted by Sarah Phelps
A new three-part series is coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One
(Image: The Christie Archive Trust)
The BBC has announced Agatha Christie’s Endless Night, a new three-part series produced by Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited for BBC iPlayer and BBC One, in a co-commission with BritBox International. Sarah Phelps (The Sixth Commandment, A Very British Scandal) returns to adapt the classic mystery novel by the best-selling author of all time. Fifth Season will handle global distribution.
It’s 1967 and man-of-many-trades Michael Rogers finds himself working as chauffeur for the enigmatic designer du jour Rudolf Santonix, snatching a glimpse into a glamorous world of outrageous wealth that's far from his own upbringing.
Transfixed by Santonix’s latest project, a beautiful house in the English countryside, Mike dreams of meeting the love of his life and taking up residence.
But unbeknownst to Mike, the house that he has set his heart on has a dark past that goes back for centuries. Local legend says that it is haunted by a curse that no one escapes.
When Mike meets the sweet-natured Ellie and, by a curious set of circumstances, finds himself moving into the house, the young couple start to realise they should have listened to the warnings. As increasingly strange and chilling events occur, they start to wonder if the curse is real and means to destroy them. Or, that someone is intent on terrifying them to death.
A ghost story and a love story, Endless Night is about obsession and the darkness that lurks in us all when we want too much.
Endless Night is Sarah Phelps’s sixth Agatha Christie adaptation made by Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited for the BBC, following the acclaimed productions of And Then There Were None, BAFTA-nominated The Witness For The Prosecution, Ordeal By Innocence, The ABC Murders and The Pale Horse.
Sarah Phelps, says: “I’m so excited to be teaming up again with ACL, Mammoth Screen and the BBC for Endless Night. One of Agatha Christie’s last novels, this is a chilling story of love, sex, deceit and death, of how far we’ll go to get our hearts desire and what we’ll do when night falls and the wolves start circling."
James Prichard, executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited says: "We are so happy to be continuing our partnership with Mammoth, BBC and Britbox and renewing acquaintance with Sarah Phelps. Endless Night is one of my great grandmother’s best stories. It is also one of my father’s personal favourites. It is an extraordinary feat of writing, made even more impressive by the age at which she wrote it. I cannot wait to see what Sarah and the team produce."
Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer, executive producers for Mammoth Screen say: “In 2015 Sarah Phelps won great acclaim for her adaption of And Then There Were None, which launched a new series of standalone Agatha Christie titles for the BBC, and we’re beyond delighted that she’s returning to take on Endless Night, Christie’s late masterpiece from 1967. Episode 1 of Towards Zero has been watched by 6 million people in the UK since March, and is one of BritBox's biggest launches to date in the US, so we have high hopes this new title will delight Christie fans everywhere!'
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama says: “We are delighted to team up again with Agatha Christie Limited and Mammoth Screen to announce our next tale from the undisputed Queen of Crime: Endless Night. The phenomenal Sarah Phelps’ previous adaptations have thrilled millions and we could not be happier to have her bring this unique and chilling mystery to BBC iPlayer and BBC One.”
Robert Schildhouse, President BritBox North America & General Manager, BritBox International, says: “Our partnership with the BBC, Agatha Christie Limited and Mammoth Screen has delivered three outstanding Agatha Christie adaptations, all of which have been BritBox hits. Towards Zero debuted at #1, with the largest first week absolute viewership and engagement of any premiere on BritBox ever. We’re so pleased to continue this collaboration with a fourth addition, Endless Night. As BritBox is the home to the largest collection of Agatha Christie titles in North America, we know our audiences—devotees to crime and mystery—will massively enjoy this series. And Sarah Phelps is the ideal match for adapting the compelling classic. In the hands of such a fearless writer, Endless Night will be unforgettable.”
Endless Night (3x60’) is produced by Mammoth Screen (part of ITV Studios) and Agatha Christie Limited, and is a co-commission between the BBC and BritBox International. It is adapted by Sarah Phelps. Executive producers are James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Sarah Phelps, Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC, and Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar and Stephen Nye for BritBox.
Filming on Endless Night will take place later this year and casting will be announced in due course. The series will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One, and on BritBox in the US and Canada.
Previous Agatha Christie adaptations are available to stream on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/bbc-announces-agatha-christie-endless-night
PBS Masterpiece Sets Third TV Adaptation Of ‘The Forsyte Saga’
The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy’s sweeping portrait of a wealthy British family in 1880s London, is getting its third TV adaptation in less than 60 years.
PBS Masterpiece has set a six-part season based on the 1920s novels, with BAFTA-nominated Poldark writer Debbie Horsfield penning the adaptation, designed to become a returning series.
It follows the BBC’s 1967 adaptation, which was watched by audiences of up to 18M. The 2002 version aired on ITV and featured a cast including Damian Lewis and Gina McKee.
The latest reimagining is housed at Mammoth Screen, the ITV Studios-backed British production company behind Parade’s End, The Serpent, and Victoria. Filming begins next month in England, Wales, and Italy.
Mammoth has gathered an ensemble cast for the series, led by BAFTA-winner Francesca Annis (Lillie), who plays formidable Forsyte matriarch Ann.
True Blood star Stephen Moyer features as Ann’s eldest son, Jolyon Senior, head of the family stockbroking firm Forsyte & Co. Danny Griffin (Fate: The Winx Saga) plays his bohemian son Jo, while Tuppence Middleton (Downton Abbey: A New Era) is his status-driven wife Frances. Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark) plays Louisa Byrne, a Soho dressmaker and Jo’s first love.
Jack Davenport (The Morning Show) plays Ann’s competitive younger son James. Joshua Orpin (Titans) stars as James’ shrewd son Soames, with Millie Gibson (Doctor Who) featuring as his love interest. Tom Durant Pritchard (This Is Going To Hurt) plays Monty Dartie, James’ son-in-law.
Josette Simon (Anatomy of a Scandal) is Mrs. Ellen Parker Barrington, a wealthy heiress and friend of the Forsyte family. Jamie Flatters (Avatar: The Way Of Water) has been cast as architect Philip Bosinney and Owen Igiehon (Disclaimer) as lawyer Isaac Cole.
Rounding out the cast is Susan Hampshire, who is returning to The Forsyte Saga having starred in the original BBC series. She won the first of her three Emmy Awards for playing Fleur Forsyte and returns to Galsworthy’s world as Lady Carteret.
Directors are Meenu Gaur (Murder Is Easy) and Annetta Laufer (Get Millie Black). Executive producers are Sheena Bucktowonsing, Debbie Horsfield, Meena Gaur , and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, and Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece. Sarah Lewis (The Long Shadow) is producing.
Horsfield said: “Our show is in part a prequel to the events of the first book, but also an opportunity to expand the world and place the women of the family centre stage. It’s a love letter to the original story while offering an exciting new perspective.”
Timmer added: “Everything about The Forsyte Saga is huge – it’s an epic canvas, and Debbie’s magnificent scripts have delivered a truly great ensemble cast. I hope audiences worldwide will be captivated by the secrets of Soames, Irene, Jolyon and other Forsyte family members as they are laid bare for a new generation of fans.”
Simpson said the “sweeping, romantic drama portrays how duty binds a family together until it conflicts with matters of the heart.”
ITV Studios is handling international distribution, with PBS Distribution overseeing North American rights. The series does not currently have a UK broadcaster attached.
BBC & BritBox Set ‘Towards Zero’ As Next Agatha Christie Limited Series
The BBC is keeping its Agatha Christie tradition alive by setting Towards Zero as its next adaptation of the great author’s work.
Following on from 2023’s limited series Murder Is Easy, the BBC has commissioned Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited to reimagine the writer’s 1944 novel.
Towards Zero unfolds around the murder of an elderly widow at a clifftop seaside house, linking a failed suicide attempt, a schoolgirl wrongfully accused of theft, and the romantic life of a famous tennis player.
The book will be adapted by Rachel Bennette, the writer behind BAFTA-nominated Zadie Smith adaptation NW. She has also written on World on Fire and Ripper Street.
Towards Zero will go into production over the summer. The series is co-produced by BritBox International, while Fifth Season will handle international distribution.
Executive producers are James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited; Damien Timmer and Sheena Bucktowonsing for Mammoth Screen; Rachel Bennette, Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC; and Reemah Sakaan, Stephen Nye, and Robert Schildhouse for BritBox International.
The BBC was pleased with the performance of Murder Is Easy over the festive period. Starring David Jonsson, it averaged 7M viewers, putting it in line with other Christie adaptations, including Ordeal By Innocence, The ABC Murders, and The Pale Horse.
Murder Is Easy will premiere on BritBox International in North America, Canada, and Australia on March 1, with South Africa following on March 7.
https://deadline.com/2024/02/bbc-towards-zero-agatha-christie-adaptation-1235814992/
The First Look at Agatha Christie's 'Murder is Easy' Introduces the Cast of Suspects
Penelope Wilton as Miss Pinkerton and David Jonsson as Fitzwilliam in 'Murder is Easy' BBC/Mammoth Screen/Anne Binckebanck
BritBox and the BBC continue their Agatha Christie miniseries universe post-Sarah Phelps with the second stand-alone non-famous detective story Murder is Easy. The two-part story comes after 2022's remarkably well-received take on the relatively under-adapted Why Didn't They Ask Evans? Like Evans, Easy is a story that doesn't have a Poirot or Marple or even the Partners in Crime of Tommy and Tuppence. Instead, it's a citizen detective story where a retired detective takes up a case out of the goodness of his heart and the desire to see justice done.
That being said, Murder Is Easy is one Marple fans will know because the story is easily adaptable into a Marple story. It begins with an elderly lady on a train to Scotland Yard. She's discovered that the spate of passings in her small village is not a random series of accidents but murder, and she's figured out who. However, she never makes it to the police. In the original novel, she tells her story to Fitzwilliam, a retired detective who just returned from being stationed in India. In the Marple-ized versions, she tells it to Jane (obviously).
In either case, her story and her failed mission galvanize her companion to take up the task she leaves unfinished. For this adaptation, the miniseries has aged down Fitzwilliam into a much younger man, just home from war, giving us a dashing young detective.
David Jonsson as FitzWilliam in ‘Murder is Easy’ BBC/Mammoth Screen/Anne Binckebanck
Here's the miniseries synopsis:
England, 1954. On a train to London, Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson) meets Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton), who tells him that a killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe.
The villagers believe the deaths are mere accidents, but Miss Pinkerton knows otherwise – and when she's later found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Fitzwilliam feels he must find the killer before they can strike again. Because for a certain kind of person, murder is easy…
Now let's get a look at our suspects.
Morfydd Clark as Bridget and Tom Riley as Lord Whitfield in 'Murder is Easy' BBC/Mammoth Screen/Mark Mainz
On the left is Bridget Conway, the cousin of Fitzwilliam's friend and his in on the case, Jimmy Lorrimer. On the right is her very rich fiancé, Lord Whitfield, who owns Ashe Manor.
Mark Bonnar as Rev Humbleby and Mathew Baynton as Dr Thomas in 'Murder is Easy' BBC/Mammoth Screen/Mark Mainz
The local reverend and the local doctor, one of whom will be a victim very soon.
Douglas Henshall as Major Horton in 'Murder is Easy' BBC/Mammoth Screen/Mark Mainz
And finally, Major Horton, everyone's favorite bulldog-owning widower.
Murder is Easy is headlined by David Jonsson (Industry), Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey), Morfydd Clark (Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), Tom Riley (The Nevers), Douglas Henshall (Shetland), Mathew Baynton (Ghosts), and Mark Bonnar (Guilt) Co-stars for the series include Sinead Matthews (The Crown), Nimra Bucha (Ms. Marvel), Tamzin Outhwaite (Ridley Road), Jon Pointing (Big Boys), and newcomer Phoebe Licorish.
The two-part series is adapted by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre (Dangerous Liaisons) and directed by Meenu Gaur (World on Fire). The series is produced by ITV's Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited and executive produced by Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, James Gandhi and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC, and Reemah Sakaan and Stephen Nye for BritBox International.
Murder is Easy will debut on BBC One and Player before the end of 2023. It is expected to debut on BritBox in early 2024.
ITV commissions third series of The Tower
ITV has commissioned a third series of crime thriller The Tower.
The show stars Gemma Whelan, Tahirah Sharif, Jimmy Akingbola and Emmett J Scanlan and is written by Patrick Harbinson and produced by Harbinson’s Windhover Films and Mammoth Screen.
Filming has begun on The Tower 3: Gallowstree Lane. The new series is based on Kate London’s third novel and it was commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill.
Starring alongside Gemma Whelan as DS Sarah Collins, is Tahirah Sharif, who was BAFTA-nominated for her role as PC Lizzie Adama for the first series, Jimmy Akingbola as DC Steve Bradshaw and Emmett J Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw.
Commented Patrick Harbinson: “We’re delighted to be filming a third series of The Tower. Damien and I are very grateful to Polly Hill and ITV for the early commission. Gallowstree Lane has a high-stakes drugs and gangs storyline with Jimmy and Emmett’s characters taking major roles. Sarah and Lizzie have gripping and heart-breaking stories too, as the drama of Portland Tower comes full circle. I firmly believe series three will be our best yet.’
Mammoth Screen and Windhover Films will produce the four-part drama in association with ITV Studios. Patrick Harbinson will executive produce the series alongside Mammoth Screen’s Damien Timmer and Charlotte Webber. Charles Bates produces and Rene van Pannevis (Looted) directs. Polly Hill will oversee production of the drama for ITV.
The Tower is distributed internationally by ITV Studios, with series one having sold into over 90 territories. HBO Europe, Canal+, Britbox North America and Australia, Virgin Media Ireland and TVNZ are among the platforms and broadcasters to licence it. On ITV, the first series debuted with 5.4 million viewers.
Windhover Films was formed by writer and producer Patrick Harbinson in January 2021.
The second series – The Tower 2: Death Message – premieres on ITV later this month with the four part series streaming on ITVX. The first series is also available to view on ITVX.
https://www.televisual.com/news/itv-commissions-third-series-of-the-tower/
Casting revealed for Murder is Easy, based on the classic mystery by Agatha Christie
Filming has begun on the two-part thriller, adapted by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre and directed by Meenu Gaur
Top left to right: Sinead Matthews, Penelope Wilton, David Jonsson (Image: Joe Quigg), Morfydd Clark (Image: Guy Coombs), Douglas Henshall (Image: Dan Pick), Tamzin Outhwaite (Image: Pal Hansen) Bottom left to right: Mark Bonnar (Image: Lee Malone), Mathew Baynton (Image: Matt Holyoak), Nimra Bucha (Image: Bina Khan), Tom Riley, Phoebe Licorish (Image: YellowBellyPhoto), Jon Ponting (Image: Ellie Harrison)
“With an intriguing central mystery and a fantastic creative team behind the camera, it’s no surprise that this new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic whodunnit has attracted a who’s who of UK acting talent to bring Murder is Easy to the screen. BBC viewers are in for a treat that will keep them guessing to the very end.”
— Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama
Filming has begun on Murder is Easy, a major new adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel made by Mammoth Screen (The Serpent, World on Fire) and Agatha Christie Limited (And Then There Were None, Death on the Nile) for BBC One and iPlayer, in a co-commission with BritBox International.
The two-part thriller is adapted by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre and directed by Meenu Gaur (Zinda Bhaag, World on Fire). FIFTH SEASON will handle international sales.
Announced today, Murder is Easy will star David Jonsson (Industry, Rye Lane) as Fitzwilliam, alongside Morfydd Clark (Lord of the Rings, Saint Maud) as Bridget; Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey, After Life) as Miss Pinkerton, Sinead Matthews (Hullraisers, The Crown) as Miss Waynflete, Tom Riley (The Nevers, Ill Behaviour) as Lord Whitfield, Douglas Henshall (Shetland, In Plain Sight) as Major Horton, Mathew Baynton (Ghosts, Wonka) as Dr Thomas, Mark Bonnar (World on Fire, Guilt) as Reverend Humbleby, Nimra Bucha (Polite Society, Ms Marvel) as Mrs Humbleby, Tamzin Outhwaite (The Tower, Ridley Road) as Mrs Pierce, Jon Pointing (Big Boys, Plebs) as Rivers, and Phoebe Licorish making her screen debut as Rose.
England, 1954. On a train to London, Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson) meets Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton), who tells him that a killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe.
The villagers believe the deaths are mere accidents, but Miss Pinkerton knows otherwise - and when she's later found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Fitzwilliam feels he must find the killer before they can strike again. Because for a certain kind of person, murder is easy…
Penelope Wilton and David Jonsson
Of the casting news, James Prichard, executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited, says: “Once again my great grandmother’s stories have attracted some amazing talent. It is so exciting to see this group of actors embark on the re-telling of this great story. The concept of evil lurking in the quintessentially English village is a familiar trope, but what exactly it is that makes murder easy remains to be revealed.”
James Gandhi, executive producer for Mammoth Screen, says: “Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre’s amazing adaptation of Murder is Easy digs into the divides at the heart of post-war English society, and we feel so lucky that the village of Wychwood is going to be brought to life by a dream cast. With Meenu Gaur at the directing helm and David Jonsson playing the lead, this promises to be a thrilling ride!”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, says: “With an intriguing central mystery and a fantastic creative team behind the camera, it’s no surprise that this new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic whodunnit has attracted a who’s who of UK acting talent to bring Murder is Easy to the screen. BBC viewers are in for a treat that will keep them guessing to the very end.”
Reemah Sakaan, CEO BritBox International. says: “With the combination of such a stellar cast, and source material that’s second to none, Murder Is Easy is set to be a huge draw for our international markets, and a great addition to BritBox’s collection of much-loved Christie classics. We are delighted to partner again with Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited to adapt another gripping Christie title, over a year on from our successful launch of Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, as part of our further three project deal, working with such a world class production team.”
Murder is Easy (2x60’) is made by Mammoth Screen (part of ITV Studios) and Agatha Christie Limited, and is a co-commission between the BBC and BritBox International. It is adapted by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, directed by Meenu Gaur and produced by Karen Kelly. The casting directors are Karen Lindsay-Stewart and Emily Jacobs. Executive producers are Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, James Gandhi and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC, and Reemah Sakaan and Stephen Nye for BritBox International.
Filming on Murder is Easy is underway in Scotland. Murder is Easy will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and on BritBox International’s streaming service in the US, Canada and South Africa.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/murder-is-easy-casting
Watch the first full trailer for BBC's World on Fire series two
World on Fire series two comes to BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Sunday 16 July, with series one available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer now
The first full trailer has been released for series two of World on Fire, coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer.
Telling the story of World War Two through the eyes of ordinary people whose lives have been thrown into chaos, the six new episodes are written by series creator Peter Bowker, Rachel Bennette and Matt Jones, and made by Mammoth Screen for the BBC and MASTERPIECE.
RAF pilots are sent to destroy German bombers prowling the skies above Manchester, with rescue operations underway on the streets below. The true reality of war has arrived in Britain.
World On Fire series two will take viewers from the streets of Britain into occupied France, Nazi Germany, and to the sands of the North African desert, where British troops struggle alongside Indian Sappers and Australian Diggers to adapt to a very different kind of combat.
Returning cast include Lesley Manville (The Crown, Magpie Murders) as Robina, Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid, The Flatshare) as Harry, Julia Brown (Shetland, Anthony) as Lois, and Zofia Wichlacz (Miasto 44, Amok) as Kasia, with Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners, A Very English Scandal) as Stan, Eugénie Derouand (The Advent Calendar, Paris Police) as Henriette, Eryk Biedunkiewicz as Jan, and Cel Spellman (Cold Feet, Waterloo Road) as Joe.
Joining the World On Fire cast for series two are Mark Bonnar (Guilt, Line Of Duty) as Sir James Danemere, Ahad Raza Mir (Resident Evil, Hum Tum) as Rajib, Gregg Sulkin (Runaways, Pretty Smart) as David and Miriam Schiweck (Der Staatsanwalk, Fellweckselzeit) as Marga.
The first series of World on Fire recently returned to BBC iPlayer where it can be streamed in full ahead of series two launching on BBC One and iPlayer, with the first episode airing on Sunday 16 July.
Commissioned by the BBC, World on Fire (6x60’) is a Mammoth Screen production for the BBC co-produced with MASTERPIECE. It is created and written by Peter Bowker, Rachel Bennette and Matt Jones, produced by Amanda Black and Angie Daniell, and directed by Drew Casson, Barney Cokeliss and Meenu Gaur. Executive producers are Peter Bowker, Sheena Bucktowonsing, Damien Timmer, Charlotte Webber and Helen Ziegler for Mammoth Screen in association with ITV Studios, Lucy Richer for the BBC, and Susanne Simpson and Rebecca Eaton for MASTERPIECE. Mammoth Screen is an ITV Studios company. World On Fire series two will be made with support from Northern Ireland Screen. The series will be distributed internationally by ITV Studios.
ITV commissions six part thriller Code of Silence starring Rose Ayling-Ellis
ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill has commissioned suspenseful crime drama Code of Silence, starring Rose Ayling-Ellis, created and written by Catherine Moulton and produced by leading independent producers Mammoth Screen.
The drama will premiere on ITV and be available for streaming on ITVX.
Code of Silence introduces us to Deaf catering worker, Alison Woods. She’s struggling to make ends meet, juggling two jobs, in a police canteen and a local bar, while also doing her best to support her Deaf mum, Julie. When DC Ashleigh Francis calls on Alison to lip read the conversations of some dangerous criminals, she is plunged into a new and exhilarating world.
Alison’s interpretation of the gang's clandestine meetings quickly become key to unlocking the police investigation. But Alison's feelings about the case become complicated when she finds herself drawn to Liam, one of the main suspects. Alison knows she's putting herself at risk by agreeing to work with the police, and when things threaten to spill over into her personal life, she knows she should step away. But Alison can’t let go…
Commented Polly Hill:
“In a world where there’s a lot of crime drama Code of Silence really stands out. It’s a brilliantly original story and a great role for Rose Ayling-Ellis. Catherine Moulton has written a thrilling drama that audiences will be gripped and surprised by, but she also puts you in the shoes of Alison, a young Deaf woman. I am incredibly proud to make this show with Rose, Catherine and Mammoth Screen. It’s a mainstream crime show, but one that can make a real difference to the audience’s understanding of the Deaf community.”
Commented Rose Ayling-Ellis:
“I am so thrilled to be coming on board for Code of Silence and to get to work with the incredible team at Mammoth Screen. When I first read Catherine Moulton’s script it was obvious that her first-hand experiences and understanding has enabled her to write a truly authentic character and I knew I had to be a part of this project. I am so delighted ITV are as excited as we are to bring this to life and I can’t wait to get to started!”
Mammoth Screen’s Founder and Chief Creative Officer Damien Timmer comments:
"Rose Ayling-Ellis is one of the UK’s most luminous stars and Catherine Moulton is one of our most exciting new writing talents so this really is a match made in heaven! Code of Silence is a riveting thriller which will make you look at the world around you with new eyes."
Catherine Moulton (Baptiste, Then You Run, Hijack) made the move into writing after taking part in the 2019 4Screenwriting course and was also on the BBC TV Drama Writers Programme for 2020.
Commented Catherine Moulton:
“I am beyond excited to be working with Rose, ITV and Mammoth on Code of Silence. It’s a fantastic opportunity to combine my love of a tense, twisty thrillers with my experience of lip reading and hearing loss, and all in a show for ITV. I can’t imagine a more perfect Alison than Rose and I will do my best to make sure the story keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.”
ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill, will oversee production of the series from the channel’s perspective. Tom Leggett and Damien Timmer executive produce for Mammoth Screen alongside Catherine Moulton.
Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, is the multi-award-winning production company responsible for critically acclaimed dramas including Endeavour 1-IX, The Tower I and II, McDonald & Dodds I-IV, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? and Tom Jones for ITV and ITVX, and The Serpent, Noughts + Crosses I and II, World On Fire I and II, The Rapture and Grime Kids for BBC.
Code of Silence is distributed internationally by ITV Studios.
Ruth Madeley to Star in BBC Adaptation of Liz Jensen’s ‘The Rapture’
Liz Jensen’s bestselling 2009 novel “The Rapture” is to be adapted into a five-part drama starring Ruth Madeley (“Years and Years,” “Then Barbara Met Alan,” “Doctor Who”), and produced by Mammoth Screen (“The Serpent,” “World on Fire”) for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The writer is Bryony Kimmings (“Last Christmas”), with Rebecca Manley, and is directed by Chanya Button (“World on Fire,” and one of the forthcoming Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant).
Recovering from a car crash which has left her paralysed, forensic psychologist Gabrielle Fox (Madeley) takes a job working in a maximum security facility for juvenile patients. Here she meets 16-year-old inmate Bethany Krall, who was found guilty of brutally murdering her mother, and tells Gabs that she has psychic powers. Is she a highly manipulative psychopath or is she telling the truth when she says she can foretell a natural disaster linked to climate catastrophe?
Madeley said: “I loved Liz Jensen’s novel and Bryony Kimmings’ scripts are brilliantly inventive and funny and scary. Gabs is such a rich and complex character, and I cannot wait to play her.”
Kimmings said: “When I read ‘The Rapture’ I fell immediately in love with its fallible, weird, potty mouthed, struggling female leads. The gift of the book is its reluctant protagonists with too much on their plate to think about the climate. That’s me – that’s most of us! I can’t wait to bring them to the screen so you can fall in love with them too.”
Executive producers Tom Leggett and Damien Timmer from Mammoth Screen added: “ ‘The Rapture’ is a dream project for us – Liz Jensen’s novel and Bryony’s scripts crackle with wit and danger and feature two outstanding female lead characters, all set against a genuinely urgent story about climate catastrophe.”
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said: “ ‘The Rapture’ blends a vitally important story of climate change with the gripping narrative rooted by two complicated and captivating women.”
“The Rapture” is a Mammoth Screen production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series is comprised of five on-hour episodes. The producer is Bryony Arnold. The executive producers are Tom Leggett and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen and Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC. “The Rapture” is produced in association with ITV Studios, which will distribute it internationally.
https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/ruth-madeley-bbc-the-rapture-1235589836/amp/
BBC One and iPlayer announce Murder is Easy, based on the classic novel by Agatha Christie
The two-part thriller will film this summer and is adapted for the screen by Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre and directed by Meenu Gaur
Murder is Easy screenwriter Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre (Image: Adam Rowley) and director Meenu Gaur
Agatha Christie on the BBC has become a classic combination, and in Murder is Easy we have one of the Queen of Crime’s finest page-turners in a new adaptation that both speaks to us today and honours her incredible talent for brilliantly entertaining, skilfully told mystery. BBC One and iPlayer viewers will be gripped.
— Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama
The BBC has announced Murder is Easy, a major new adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic novel produced by Mammoth Screen (The Serpent, World on Fire) and Agatha Christie Limited (And Then There Were None, Death on the Nile) for BBC One and iPlayer, in a co-commission with BritBox International.
The two-part thriller will film this summer and is adapted for the screen by Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre and directed by Meenu Gaur (Zinda Bhaag, World on Fire). FIFTH SEASON will handle international sales outside of the UK, Americas and South Africa.
England, 1954. On a train to London, a man going by the name of Luke Fitzwilliam meets Miss Pinkerton, who tells him that a killer is on the loose in the sleepy English village of Wychwood under Ashe.
The villagers believe the deaths are mere accidents, but Miss Pinkerton knows otherwise - and when she's later found dead on her way to Scotland Yard, Luke feels he must find the killer before they can strike again. Because for a certain kind of person, murder is easy…
Screenwriter Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre says: "I’ve watched every Agatha Christie adaptation out, because Christie wrote for the world and the whole world loves her back. But somehow I’d never read one of her novels. When I first read Murder is Easy, I couldn’t believe how daring, experimental and furious the book was. Nothing like I’d expected. From the first read, the book was shouting at me how to enter and adapt it, and what’s so exciting is having everyone at Mammoth Screen and ACL jump right in there with me. It’s like going on an extended train journey with a genius sat next to you, whispering the secrets of storytelling into your ear.”
Director Meenu Gaur says: "I am part of the worldwide club of Agatha Christie’s fans and followers and therefore thrilled to be shaping one of her works for the screen. I was drawn to the sassy, cool, witty, and not to be messed with women of Murder is Easy and blown away again by how delightful her characters are.”
James Prichard, executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited says: "This is one of my great grandmother’s best and most disconcerting titles. Of course, murder isn't easy. Or is it if you live in a traditional unsuspecting English village?"
James Gandhi, executive producer for Mammoth Screen says: “Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre has written an extraordinary adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel, putting the post-war, quintessentially English village under the magnifying glass and exposing the secrets that lurk beneath the picture perfect surface of Wychwood under Ashe. With the amazing Meenu Gaur directing, this adaptation will captivate and delight audiences.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama says: “Agatha Christie on the BBC has become a classic combination, and in Murder is Easy we have one of the Queen of Crime’s finest page-turners in a new adaptation that both speaks to us today and honours her incredible talent for brilliantly entertaining, skilfully told mystery. BBC One and iPlayer viewers will be gripped.”
Reemah Sakaan, CEO BritBox International says: “We are thrilled to partner again with Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited to adapt another gripping Agatha Christie title, working with the BBC and a world class production team. This new co-commission underlines BritBox International’s standing as a major home of Agatha Christie programming, offering new adaptations like Murder is Easy and Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? - with more of these to come – and the largest collection of much-loved Christie classics in our markets.”
Murder is Easy is the latest in the ongoing series of Agatha Christie adaptations made by Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited for the BBC, following on from the acclaimed productions of And Then There Were None, The Witness For The Prosecution, Ordeal By Innocence, The ABC Murders and The Pale Horse.
Murder is Easy (2x60’) is produced by Mammoth Screen (part of ITV Studios) and Agatha Christie Limited, and is a co-commission between the BBC and BritBox International. It is adapted by Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, directed by Meenu Gaur and produced by Karen Kelly. Executive producers are Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Damien Timmer and James Gandhi for Mammoth Screen, Jenny Frayn for the BBC and Reemah Sakaan and Stephen Nye for BritBox International.
Filming on Murder is Easy will take place later this year and casting will be announced in due course. Murder is Easy will air on BBC One and iPlayer, and on BritBox International’s streaming service in the US, Canada and South Africa.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/agatha-christie-murder-is-easy
Grime Kids Cast Reveal: Who Stars in the Coming-of-Age Drama?
Meet the cast of BBC Three’s Grime Kids and read all about this exciting new drama
Grime Kids is a new BBC Three fictional drama series created by Theresa Ikoko, writer of the BAFTA-nominated coming-of-age film Rocks, and inspired by the non-fiction book of the same name by DJ Target.
The series is markedly different from the book and traces the lives of five fictional characters, growing up in the early 2000s, desperate to have their voices heard through music.
A love letter to east London, the series is set and filmed in Bow, celebrating the culture, community and creatives that gave birth to a then new genre: grime.
What can you expect from the series?
Set in 2001 at the start of summer, Grime Kids follows the five friends Dane, Junior, Kai, Bishop and Bayo, known as the “Gladiator Crew”. The lads navigate first loves, disapproving parents and brushes with danger - each coming of age in their own way, while setting out to have their music played on the airways.
Meet the cast of Grime Kids
Finding the perfect people to portray that world was an incredible part of the process, says series writer and executive producer Theresa Ikoko: “The casting process was one of my favourite parts of making this show. The first time seeing all five leads together was such a magical moment; we knew instantly that we had something special with them.”
Those young people will be portrayed by up-and-coming stars: Shanu Hazzan (EastEnders, The Gentleman), Juwon Adedokun (We Love Moses, Damilola, Our Loved Boy), Gabriel Robinson (Casualty, Silent Witness), Tienne Simon (Silent Witness) and Yus Jamal Crookes, who’s making his debut TV appearance.
Meet the characters
Dane is the ambitious dreamer and leader of the crew. He’s determined to turn his dreams into a reality and finds his first love Genevieve along the way.
Junior, Dane’s best friend, is the ‘dad’ of the group. During the series, he learns to confront his grief over the death of his mum head on and put aside old resentments and see the best in people.
Bayo is the baby of the group. As the story unfolds, Bayo learns to stick up for himself, his beliefs, and to trust his instincts.
Bishop, the quiet thinker, learns an important lesson in appreciating the relationships in his life over flashy things.
Finally, Kai, the wildcard, learns how to break through his bravado, embracing the honesty and vulnerability needed to form meaningful relationships.
Ultimately, the series is about music, friendship and figuring out what kind of man you want to be when the world still sees you as a kid.
A love letter to east London
Speaking about the setting of the series, creator Theresa Ikoko says "It’s a real privilege to showcase the communities of east London in my writing. I've had the pleasure of calling east London home for most of my life. I hope the love I have for this special part of the world shines through in this show."
The Rap Game UK mentor DJ Target is one of the show’s executive producers and says the series will allow viewers a glimpse into “how a young person at that time lived, got about and navigated to get to their dream”.
And Grime Kids is inseparable from the community it’s filmed, DJ Target explains: “It’s set in Bow, you're going to see all of the places that we grew up in, the likes of Roman Road, legendary places like Rhythm Division and Rinse FM being based in the tower blocks. It wouldn't have felt like this being based anywhere other than there.
“At that time, in that place, it was something magical,” he says of east London in grime’s early years.
Grime Kids has finished filming and will be available on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer later this year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/8b8a02bf-b39d-4c34-a52e-76aedee94a74
‘Tom Jones’: Masterpiece On PBS Unveils Trailer & Premiere Date
Fans of Ted Lasso‘s Hannah Waddingham may want to check out Tom Jones, Masterpiece’s retelling of Henry Fielding’s novel from Gwyneth Hughes (Vanity Fair).
The romantic comedy will air in four parts, Sundays, April 30 – May 21, 2023 at 9pm ET on PBS. Waddingham plays the seductive and vengeful Lady Bellaston, who comes between Tom (Solly McLeod) and Sophia (Sophie Wilde). The story follows Tom, a foundling of uncertain parentage in 18th Century England who falls for an heiress (Wilde).
Co-produced by Mammoth Screen, the limited series also stars James Fleet (Bridgerton) as Squire Allworthy, Tom’s warm-hearted adoptive father; Alun Armstrong (Little Dorrit) as Allworthy’s hard drinking but loveable neighbor; Squire Western, who is Sophia’s doting grandfather; Felicity Montagu (The Durrells in Corfu) plays Allworthy’s reserved sister, Bridget; and James Wilbraham (In My Skin) as her odious son, William Blifil—an unrelenting antagonist to Tom.
“It’s been the most joyful experience to bring this sparkling romance to the screen,” says Hughes in a statement. “It’s a story in which the sun never stops shining, and in which Love Conquers All, and that just makes such a refreshing change after the last couple of years! Henry Fielding created brilliant characters, fully of their time, but still speaking directly to us in the modern world, as we strive towards our own versions of love and happiness. I’ve loved writing alongside him.”
“This new adaptation of Tom Jones is a big-hearted rom-com that will absolutely delight our viewers,” added Executive Producer Susanne Simpson. “It’s fun–full of laughter and romance. I’m extremely proud to partner with producers Mammoth Screen, writer Gwyneth Hughes, and an outstanding cast on this joyful show.”
ITV commissions second series of The Tower
ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill, today announced the recommission of gripping crime thriller The Tower.
The new series – The Tower II: Death Message – is based on Kate London’s brilliant second novel, and is adapted by screenwriter Patrick Harbinson (Homeland, Fearless, 24, ER) and produced by his company Windhover Films and leading production company, Mammoth Screen.
Starring alongside Gemma Whelan as DS Sarah Collins is Tahirah Sharif, who was recently BAFTA-nominated for her role as PC Lizzie Adama, alongside Emmett J Scanlan as DI Kieran Shaw and Jimmy Akingbola as DC Steve Bradshaw.
Commented Polly Hill: “It’s a real thrill to be recommissioning The Tower with an excellent cast and script from Patrick Harbinson and the team at Mammoth Screen. The characters, brilliantly created by novelist Kate London, certainly resonated with our audience who are keen to learn what happens next.”
Mammoth Screen and Windhover Films will produce the four-part drama in association with ITV Studios. Patrick Harbinson will executive produce the series alongside Mammoth Screen’s Sheena Bucktowonsing and Damien Timmer. Andy Mosse (The Last Bus, The Darkest Dawn, Hungerford) produces and Faye Gilbert (The Bay, The Line, Leaving Eva) directs. Polly Hill will oversee production of the drama for ITV.
Commented Patrick Harbinson: “I am very grateful to Polly and ITV for recommissioning The Tower and delighted to be working with Damien and my friends at Mammoth again. Kate’s second novel is even better than her first. It has all her trademark authenticity, complex characters, and a gripping and incredibly topical narrative. This series will keep the audience on the edge of their seats till the very end.”
Commented Damien Timmer: “It’s really pleasing that ITV viewers enjoyed watching series one of The Tower as much as we enjoyed making it. We’re thrilled to be returning for the second volume of this fascinating story, and with this brilliant cast!”
The series opens with Lizzie returning to Farlow station. Her boss and former lover, DI Kieran Shaw (Emmett J Scanlan), partners her with Arif Johar (Michael Karim). Their first call is to a domestic violence complaint against Mark Brannon (Charley Palmer Rothwell), who is accused of beating up his girlfriend, Georgina Teel (Rosa Coduri) and terrorising their young daughter Skye.
Lizzie persuades Georgina to tell the truth about what Brannon has done to her, enabling Lizzie and Arif to arrest him. However, once the case gets to court, Lizzie finds herself cross-examined on the stand, leaving the whole case on a knife-edge.
Meanwhile Sarah Collins has transferred to Homicide Command. New boss DCI Jim Fedden is not welcoming: he asks her to re-open the case of a missing school girl, Tania Mills, who disappeared on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral, 6 September 1997. Sarah knows that Fedden has handed her an impossible challenge, but she throws herself into it with typical determination and thoroughness. And, gradually, perhaps helped by the fact that she too was a teenager of Tania’s age back in 1997, she begins to uncover clues that previous investigations had overlooked. At the end of the first episode, Sarah’s investigations take a further twist, which means she and Lizzie cross paths again…
The antagonistic relationship between the experienced Sarah Collins and the novice cop Lizzie Adama is at the heart of The Tower II, as they are forced to work together for the first time and begin to get a sense of each other’s unique strengths.
The Tower is distributed internationally by ITV Studios, with series one having sold into over 70 territories. HBO Europe, Canal+, Britbox North America and Australia, Virgin Media Ireland and TVNZ are among the platforms and broadcasters to licence it. On ITV, the series debuted with 5.4 million viewers.
Windhover Films was formed by writer and producer Patrick Harbinson in January 2021. Mammoth Screen is one of the UK’s leading drama production companies. It is part of ITV Studios.
Filming is due to commence later this summer.
McDonald & Dodds season 3: Release date, cast and latest news
The detectives are back in action in Bath.
McDonald & Dodds is coming back to our screens, with four brand-new cases for the mismatched detectives to crack.
The new season sees Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia return to their central roles, although this time they’re joined by a new Chief Superintendent played by Outnumbered’s Claire Skinner.
When the new season was announced Watkins commented: “I’m delighted to be returning to Bath for the third series of McDonald & Dodds. Tala and I are so thrilled to be in a partnership which the audience seem to have affection for.”
Meanwhile Gouveia said: “I can’t wait to start filming again and to see what adventures writer Robert Murphy takes us on next! It’s always a pleasure to work with Jason and our wonderful casts. Bring on series three!”
Read on for everything you need to know about McDonald & Dodds on ITV.
When does McDonald & Dodds season 3 start on ITV?
The new season starts on Sunday 19th June, at 8pm on ITV and ITV Hub.
Future instalments then air weekly, with the third season made up of four episodes.
McDonald & Dodds season 3 cast – who’s returning and who’s new?
Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia are of course back for more, returning to lead the McDonald and Dodds cast as DS Dodds and DCI Lauren McDonald, while Jack Riddiford, Lily Sacofsky and Danyal Ismail all also return.
Along with guest stars such as Siân Phillips (Good Omens) and Alan Davies (QI), the series also sees a new regular member of the team joining, Chief Superintendent Ormond, as played by Claire Skinner (Outnumbered).
Here’s a full list of the cast for the first episode of the season, entitled Belvedere.
Jason Watkins as DS Dodds
Tala Gouveia as DCI Lauren McDonald
Jack Riddiford as DC Darren Craig
Claire Skinner as Chief Supt Ormond
Lily Sacofsky as DC Milena Paciorkowski
Danyal Ismail as DC Martin Malik
Siân Phillips as Agnes Gillan
Alan Davies as George Gillan
Catherine Tyldesley as Kate Porter
Holly Aird as Paula Monkford
Gabriel Bisset Smith as James Langmere
Charlie Chambers as DC Goldie
What cases are the team taking on in season 3?
The first episode, called Belvedere, follows McDonald and Dodds as they called in to untangle the mysterious circumstances after a young woman dies in a busy park in broad daylight. The official synopsis asks: “Who is she? How did she die surrounded by witnesses? And how is it possible that she is… smiling?”
The second episode is called A Billion Beats, and sees McDonald and Dodds sucked into the fast and furious world of Formula 1 after an up-and-coming driver dies during a sub-3.5-second pit stop.
Episode 3 is titled The War of Rose, and sees a case of social media vs reality, when a lifestyle influencer dies on the operating table while getting a nose job.
The fourth and final episode, Clouds Across the Moon, follows the team as they investigate after the body of a successful Bath businessman is found in a shallow grave in the shadow of the Glastonbury Tor.
ITV Drama Endeavour – Series Nine Statement
After 10 phenomenally successful years, producers Mammoth Screen, and screenwriter Russell Lewis, Shaun Evans and Roger Allam have mutually decided to bring the internationally renowned Endeavour to a close, and the series currently filming in Oxford will be the last.
ITV’s drama commissioning team respectfully accepts this creative decision and would like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone associated with Endeavour who have made the drama such a well loved part of the UK’s drama landscape. ITV would particularly like to thank Damien Timmer, Russell Lewis, Shaun Evans and Roger Allam who have created television history following in the footsteps of Morse’s acclaimed creator, the late, great, Colin Dexter and the much missed John Thaw.
Commented Executive Producer Damien Timmer on behalf of producers, Mammoth Screen:
“Endeavour has been a real labour of love for all of us, and we salute Russell Lewis for his extraordinary achievement in chronicling Endeavour Morse’s coming of age across 72 hours of tv. Russell always knew where he wanted the series to end, and that Remorseful Day is nearly upon us! We’d like to thank Shaun and Roger and all the other members of the Endeavour family on and off screen, and to the show’s fans both in the U.K. and abroad. Russell has many surprises up his sleeve for the final three films, with the return of some familiar faces and new challenges for Endeavour and Thursday to face before the final goodbye!”
Endeavour first aired on ITV as a single film on 2 January 2012 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Inspector Morse’s television debut. Since then, 32 more films have been broadcast with a further three currently in production, bringing the total to 36.
ITV Studios handles the international distribution of Endeavour, which has been sold to over 200 territories across the world.