Amazon MGM Studios commission thriller based on Stephen King short story, Crouch End
Amazon MGM Studios have commissioned a new thrilling 6-part drama, Crouch End, based on Stephen King's North London set short story.
Adapted by Paul Tomalin (Bodies) and directed by Tom Shankland (Berlin Noir, The Serpent), Crouch End is produced by Mammoth Screen (Hercule, The Serpent) and Fifth Season (East of Eden, Severance). Executive Producers are Paul Tomalin, Tom Shankland, Damien Timmer, Rebecca Keane and Ben Irving.
Nicole Clemens, VP of International Originals at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said:
“Stephen King is one of the defining storytellers of our time, and we’re thrilled to bring his Lovecraftian tale to life in London with Crouch End. Paul Tomalin brings a singular, character-driven vision to the series and, paired with Tom Shankland at the helm, plus the first-class production teams at Mammoth Screen and Fifth Season, this show will grip audiences worldwide with its visceral crime thriller and supernatural mystery.”
Writer Paul Tomalin commented:
“After reading Crouch End some years back, Stephen King’s vivid prose has haunted my nightmares ever since. Having the honour to adapt it with the incredible team at Mammoth, Fifth Season and Amazon alongside director Tom Shankland is a dream come true. I couldn’t be more excited to bring this thrilling tale to the screen.”
Director Tom Shankland, said:
“I’ve been a Stephen King super-fan forever. The chance to work with this great team and bring his utterly brilliant London mystery to life is beyond exciting – Crouch End will be cinematic, original and thought-provoking in equal measure.”
Filming begins next year with the series set to launch on Prime Video!
A first look at Edward Bluemel as Hercule Poirot.
The BBC and BritBox have revealed the first look of Edward Bluemel as Hercule Poirot in the forthcoming six-part series Hercule from Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited.
The series, which has commenced filming in Liverpool, is an intimate study of Hercule Poirot the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars. Series one of Hercule will centre around three of Christie’s early stories, while also introducing Hercule Poirot to future friends and allies and one particular nemesis…
Previously announced to join Bluemel in the series are Henry Ashton (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), James D'Arcy (Oppenheimer, Constellations), Calvin Demba (Supacell, Life), Phil Dunning (Smoggie Queens, Am I Being Unreasonable?), Jack Gleeson (House of Guinness, In the Land of the Saints and Sinners), Tamsin Greig (Riot Women, Friday Night Dinner), James Nesbitt (Cold Feet, Run Away), Guy Remmers (The Buccaneers, Lessons), Rebecca Rittenhouse (His & Hers, Maggie) and Mawaan Rizwan (Juice, The Split Up).
Widely regarded as one of the greatest detectives in fiction, Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot novels have sold over 750 million copies, captivating readers and audiences for more than a century.
Hercule (6 x 60’) is produced by Mammoth Screen (a part of ITV Studios) and Agatha Christie Limited for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and BritBox in North America in 2027.
Written by Benji Walters (Code of Silence, The Leopard, Obsession), the first two episodes are being directed by Jonny Campbell (Am I Being Unreasonable?, In The Flesh), with Chanya Button (Code of Silence, Doctor Who) and Alrick Riley (Bridgerton, How to Get Away with Murder) the second two episodes and the final two episodes, respectively. Charlie Palmer (A Woman Of Substance, Extraordinary) serves as series producer.
The executive producers are Benji Walters and Jonny Campbell, James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Nick Lambon for the BBC, and Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar, and Stephen Nye for BritBox. Charlie Palmer (A Woman Of Substance, Extraordinary) is series producer. Fifth Season is handling global distribution.
Previous Agatha Christie adaptations are available to stream on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox.
BBC reveals haunting first look and further casting for The Witch Farm
The BBC has unveiled first-look pictures from The Witch Farm, a new ghost story and mystery set in the Welsh countryside, coming soon to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in a co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales. Starring Gabrielle Creevy (The Guest, Black Doves), and Michael Socha (The Cage, Showtrial) the series is written by Danny Robins – creator of hit BBC paranormal podcast and TV series Uncanny, docu-drama podcast The Battersea Poltergeist and the West End play turned global phenomenon 2:22 - A Ghost Story. The Witch Farm is inspired by first-hand accounts, theories and real events explored in Danny’s original BBC podcast of the same name.
Alongside first-look pictures, further casting has been revealed including Lewin Lloyd (His Dark Materials), Sian Gibson (The Power of Parker, Peter Kay's Car Share), Robert Pugh (Game of Thrones, The Tuckers), Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso, Downton Abbey), Edward Holcroft (Industry, The Agency) and Roger Evans (Northern Lights, House of the Dragon).
South Wales, 1989. Bill [Socha], Liz [Creevy] and their teenage son Jonathan [Lloyd] leave London for Heol Fanog, a remote modern farmhouse in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons, determined to make a fresh start. At first, the isolation feels like freedom. But when frightening, inexplicable things begin to happen around the house and a strange figure begins to appear, the family starts to feel increasingly scared.
What follows is a steady escalation of the chillingly uncanny - unexplained disturbances and an unsettling sense that they are not alone. As Bill and Liz begin to investigate, the house draws them deeper into a history that refuses to stay buried. And as the land yields its secrets, so too does their marriage - testing the limits of trust, belief, and what they’re willing to deny in order to survive.
The Witch Farm (4x60’) is written and created by Danny Robins, directed by Stacey Gregg, and produced by Megan Ott. The executive producers are Simon Barnard, Stacey Gregg and Danny Robins, James Gandhi and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, and Nawfal Faizullah and Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC. Mammoth Screen’s Creative Director Rebecca Keane has overseen the development of the series. Additional funding support has been provided by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales, the series is produced in association with and distributed internationally by ITV Studios. The original podcast was a Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4.
ROSE AYLING-ELLIS BEGINS FILMING SERIES TWO OF ITV'S BAFTA-WINNING THRILLER CODE OF SILENCE
TV, BritBox and Mammoth Screen have announced that filming is now underway on the second series of Code of Silence, the BAFTA-winning drama from Mammoth Screen, with Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE reprising her acclaimed lead role as Alison Brooks.
Rose is joined by returning cast members Andrew Buchan (Black Doves, Passenger), award-winning comedian and actor John Bishop (Doctor Who, The Accused), Nathan Armarkwei Laryea (The Witcher, Doctor Who) and Fifi Garfield (Coffee Morning Club, Deaf Funny).
New cast members include Jonah Hauer-King (A House of Dynamite, The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Jo Joyner (Little Disasters, Ackley Bridge), Sophie McShera (Downton Abbey, The Gallows Pole), John Hollingworth (Poldark, The Crown), Sasha Desouza-Willock (Vengeance: Murder on the Heath, London Kills) and Emily Head (Whitstable Pearl, The Inbetweeners).
Following the success of its debut series, the six-part thriller returns with a new, gripping case as creator and writer Catherine Moulton continues to explore the worlds of crime, communication and representation through a unique lens.
Two years on, Alison has completed her forensic lip-reading training with the police and is called upon to assist with a high-stakes surveillance operation involving Ruby Dowling (Emily Head), a woman caught up in a sophisticated money-laundering syndicate.
After being arrested when illicit cash is discovered hidden in her car, Ruby is released on bail back into a dangerous world where she finds herself trapped between police scrutiny and ruthless criminals. When she becomes the victim of a brutal attack, DI James Marsh (Andrew Buchan) and his team – DS Daniel Henshaw (Jonah Hauer-King), DS Ben Lawford (Nathan Armarkwei Laryea) and DC Lizzie Silver (Sasha Desouza-Willock) – are left searching for answers.
Tasked with decoding vital CCTV footage, Alison’s unique expertise becomes crucial to the investigation. But as hidden secrets begin to emerge, the case takes a disturbing turn, revealing threats far closer to home. With loyalties tested, trust beginning to unravel and dangerous criminals closing in, Alison discovers that uncovering the truth may come at a devastating personal cost – and could make her the next target.
Commented Rose Ayling-Ellis:
“I am so happy to be back on set with the brilliant cast and crew that made working on the first series such a delight and I’m looking forward to welcoming new members of the team too.”
Commented Catherine Moulton:
“I’m thrilled to be bringing Alison back for a second series. Now she’s officially part of the police team she’s keen to make her mark. Faced with her first murder investigation, she struggles to balance her determination to uncover the killer with the limits of her new police role. But blurred boundaries lead to divided loyalties, and her detective’s instincts, combined with her unique skill as a lip reader and close attention to detail, tell her there’s so much more to this case than meets the eye.”
Commented Mammoth’s Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Damien Timmer:
“This is a special show to work on, and it was a thrill to win a BAFTA for series 1. Audiences have really taken Rose and Alison to their hearts, and we have so many surprises we’re excited to share on series 2!”
The first series of Code of Silence was met with widespread praise for its originality, emotional impact and authentic representation of the Deaf community. Critics hailed the series as “a landmark moment for inclusion and representation” and “the must-watch thriller of the year”, with Rose Ayling-Ellis’s performance receiving particular acclaim.
The drama also resonated strongly with audiences, with the opening episode of series one consolidating to 7.5 million viewers and the full box set generating more than 20 million streams.
Series two continues the production’s commitment to authentic representation both on and off screen, featuring a diverse cast and crew that includes talent from the Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse communities.
Joseph Shrubb returns as producer, with Meenu Gaur (The Forsytes, Murder is Easy, World on Fire) directing episodes one to three and Nirpal Bhogal (Grace, DI Ray, Endeavour) directing episodes four to six. Working alongside Catherine Moulton are writers Genevieve Barr (Then Barbara Met Alan), Melissa Bubnic (Young Sherlock), Kevin Rundle (Gangs of London) and Nicola Wilson (Call The Midwife).
The second series is executive produced by Damien Timmer, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Mammoth Screen, alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis and Catherine Moulton, and Jon Farrar and Jess O’Riordan for BritBox. ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill and Drama Commissioner Callum Dziedzic will oversee the production on behalf of ITV.
Code of Silence is produced by Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, with BritBox as the North American commissioner.
The series is produced in association with and distributed by ITV Studios.
Code of Silence is available to stream on ITVX and STV Player and on BritBox in the US and Canada.
BritBox & BBC’s Poirot Origin Series ‘Hercule’ Reveals Cast
The BBC has announced casting for the forthcoming six-part series Hercule from Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited.
Joining Bluemel are Henry Ashton (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), James D'Arcy (Oppenheimer, Constellations), Calvin Demba (Supacell, Life), Phil Dunning (Smoggie Queens, Am I Being Unreasonable?), Jack Gleeson (House of Guinness, In the Land of the Saints and Sinners), Tamsin Greig (Riot Women, Friday Night Dinner), James Nesbitt (Cold Feet, Run Away), Guy Remmers (The Buccaneers, Lessons), Rebecca Rittenhouse (His & Hers, Maggie) and Mawaan Rizwan (Juice, The Split Up).
They are set to join Edward Bluemel in a new adaptation chronicling the story of the world’s greatest detective – and how he became it, which is due to commence filming soon, primarily in Liverpool.
The series is an intimate study of Hercule Poirot the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars. The series will centre around three of Christie’s early stories, while also introducing Hercule Poirot to future friends and allies and one particular nemesis…
Written by Benji Walters (Code of Silence, The Leopard, Obsession), the first two episodes are being directed by Jonny Campbell (Am I Being Unreasonable?, In The Flesh), with Chanya Button (Code of Silence, Doctor Who) and Alrick Riley (Bridgerton, How to Get Away with Murder) directing Block 2 and Block 3. Charlie Palmer (A Woman Of Substance, Extraordinary) serves as series producer.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest detectives in fiction, Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot novels have sold over 750 million copies, captivating readers and audiences for more than a century.
Hercule (6 x 60’) is produced by Mammoth Screen (a part of ITV Studios) and Agatha Christie Limited for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and BritBox in North America in 2027.
The series is adapted by Benji Walters. The executive producers are Benji Walters and Jonny Campbell, James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Nick Lambon for the BBC, and Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar, and Stephen Nye for BritBox. Charlie Palmer is series producer. Fifth Season is handling global distribution.
BBC Casts Edward Bluemel As Poirot In ‘Hercule,’ As BritBox Boards Agatha Christie Remake In U.S.
The BBC has found its Hercule Poirot.
After Deadline revealed last month that the British broadcaster had greenlit a major reimagining of the Agatha Christie detective, the BBC has now confirmed the series — and cast its leading man.
Edward Bluemel, known for his work in Killing Eve, My Lady Jane and Sex Education, will play Poirot in Hercule. Aged just 33, Bluemel is the youngest actor to embody the famous Belgian sleuth on screen.
Deadline understands that there is a three-season commitment to Hercule. This was not confirmed by the BBC or BritBox, but that’s the intention as filming gets underway in Liverpool over the summer.
Here’s the logline: “The series is an intimate study of Hercule the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars. The series takes a magnifying glass to three of Christie’s most celebrated stories, while also charting Hercule’s burgeoning friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings, his early encounters with Scotland Yard’s James Japp, and introducing him to one particular nemesis.”
The Poirot reboot is housed at ITV Studios-backed Mammoth Screen, which has a long track record of adapting Christie’s work, having produced BBC series including And Then There Were None and Murder is Easy. Mammoth founder Damien Timmer executive-produced many episodes of Poirot, the David Suchet series that ran for nearly 25 years on ITV.
Responsibility for adapting Christie’s work has fallen to Benji Walters, who has credits on BBC series Noughts + Crosses and spent time developing an adaptation of Brideshead Revisited with Call Me by Your Name director Luca Guadagnino in 2020.
Jonny Campbell (Am I Being Unreasonable?) will direct the first two episodes. Charlie Palmer (A Woman Of Substance) is the series producer.
Hercule executive producers are Walters and Campbell; James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited; Rebecca Durbin and Timmer for Mammoth Screen; Nick Lambon for the BBC; and Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar, and Stephen Nye for BritBox. Fifth Season is handling global distribution.
Agatha Christie Limited’s Prichard said:
“My father had the privilege of working with David Suchet for nearly 25 years, and I now have the good fortune of being able to share my great grandmother’s brilliant stories with a new generation of viewers.’’
“Edward Bluemel is an extremely talented performer and will make a great addition to the long line of actors that have played this celebrated character, aided and abetted by Benji Walters’ thoughtful scripts. I cannot wait to see Edward on screen as Hercule Poirot.”
Durbin and Timmer added:
“Edward Bluemel and Benji Walters are both extraordinary talents and it is a joy to see them take on this beloved character and make him their own. Hercule is both a love letter to Agatha Christie and a fascinating new perspective on an iconic figure - we hope viewers will find it as arresting as we do!”
BBC drama director Lindsay Salt said Hercule said it was a “privilege” to bring Poirot to the BBC, while Farrar, chief content officer for direct-to-consumer at BBC Studios, added: “This is an ambitious reimagining of one of Christie’s greatest creations.”
Bluemel is no stranger to the world of Christie, having starred in Netflix series Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials earlier this year. His other credits include Belgravia: The Next Chapter and A Discovery of Witches.
Several high-profile actors have portrayed Poirot over the years. British audiences will associate him with David Suchet, but he was played by John Malkovich in the 2018 limited series The ABC Murders (also produced by Mammoth). Kenneth Branagh donned the detective’s distinctive moustache in three movies: Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and A Haunting in Venice.
Hercule will add to BritBox’s embrace of Christie. The streamer is also planning to bring crime-fighting couple Tommy and Tuppence back to TV in Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence.
Previous Agatha Christie adaptations are available to stream on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox.
Code of Silence wins Best Drama Series at the 2026 BAFTA’s!
Code of Silence has won the BAFTA for Best Drama Series at Sunday night’s ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall.
The series, starring Rose Ayling-Ellis and written by Catherine Moulton, averaged 7.5 million viewers and over 20 million streams across the full box set. It has been hailed as “the must-watch thriller of the year” and “a landmark moment for inclusion and representation.”
A second series is shooting this Summer & Code of Silence series 1 is available to stream now on ITVX.
Jimmy Akingbola, Fra Fee, Kathryn Gallagher, Shazad Latif, Christian Ochoa Lavernia, and Ben Miles join the cast of ITV’s propulsive lunar thriller First Woman.
Jimmy Akingbola (Bel-Air, The Tower), Fra Fee (Unchosen, Lost Boys and Fairies), Kathryn Gallagher (Woman of the Hour, You), Shazad Latif (Wuthering Heights, Nautilus), Christian Ochoa Lavernia (In the Grey, Neuromancer), and Ben Miles (Andor, The Crown) have joined the cast of ITV’s propulsive, lunar thriller First Woman alongside previously announced Andrea Riseborough, Ashley Walters, Jennifer Ehle and Alex Hassell.
Created by Lydia Yeoman (Curfew) and George Oakes, from his original idea, and directed by Emmy and BAFTA winning Philip Martin, the six-part drama has been commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, with production company Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, commencing filming in Belfast.
A biologist taking part in a groundbreaking research project, Claire Reith (Andrea Riseborough) is the first woman to set foot on the moon, and her disappearance throws suspicion on her fellow astronauts and China’s rival base. With hundreds of thousands of miles between them, can her husband Ben (Ashley Walters) uncover the truth behind his wife's disappearance?
Jimmy Akingbola plays astronaut Dr Henry Evans, in charge of the nuclear reactor that sustains life on the moon. Fra Fee plays astronaut Dr Declan McAllister whose bullish demeanour puts him at loggerheads with Claire. Kathryn Gallagher plays Lucy Miller, a former NASA astronaut now working in Mission Control. Christian Ochoa Lavernia plays Gabriel Ross, commander of the moon mission. Shazad Latif plays Inesh Vidhani, the billionaire who is behind the space programme. Ben Miles plays mission director Peter Talbot, a former astronaut now running Mission Control.
With the action switching between Mission Control in the UK and the lunar surface, this is a race against time like no other, with the remaining astronauts under increasing pressure and Ben hoping against hope that he and his wife can be reunited. But how well can two people really know each other?
‘The Forsytes’ Adds Gregg Sulkin & Gabriel Antunes As PBS Masterpiece Series Starts Filming Season 3
Masterpiece PBS‘ The Forsytes has expanded its cast as its begins production in Croatia on its third season. Gregg Sulkin (The Six Triple Eight, World on Fire) and Gabriel Antunes (Hey Joe, FBI International) have joined the returning ensemble for Season 3, which will see the Forsyte family on holiday in the French Riviera.
Per the logline, when the wealthy Forsytes try to get some respite in the glamorous French Riviera, they quickly realize that they can’t escape their family drama. The casino, the beach and a luxurious hotel are all settings for the third chapter, which brings new characters into the family’s lives.
Debbie Horsfield (Poldark) penned the adaptation and Joss Agnew (Outrageous, Poldark) directs. Benjamin Greenacre serves as producer, alongside Imogen Wenner as Associate Producer. Horsfield and Damien Timmer executive produce for Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, along with Susanne Simpson for Masterpiece.
The Forsytes recently completed its first season run on Masterpiece PBS. Season 2 will premiere in 2027 on Masterpiece PBS in the U.S. and on 5 in the UK.
The Forsytes is produced in association with ITV Studios, which handles international distribution, with PBS Distribution handling North American rights.
Sulkin, who recurred in three seasons of Wizards of Waverly Place, also is set to reprise his role as fan-favourite Mason Greyback in the upcoming four-part conclusion to the series, which premieres this summer.
Jennifer Ehle and Alex Hassell join the cast of ITV’s propulsive lunar thriller First Woman
Jennifer Ehle (Contagion, Zero Dark Thirty) and Alex Hassell (Rivals, Wasteman, His Dark Materials) have joined the cast of ITV’s propulsive, lunar thriller First Woman alongside Andrea Riseborough and Ashley Walters.
Created by Lydia Yeoman (Curfew) and George Oakes, from his original idea, and directed by Emmy and BAFTA winning Philip Martin, the six-part drama has been commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, with production company Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, commencing filming in Belfast.
A biologist taking part in a groundbreaking research project, Claire Reith (Andrea Riseborough) is the first woman to set foot on the moon, and her disappearance throws suspicion on her fellow astronauts and China’s rival base. With hundreds of thousands of miles between them, can her husband Ben (Ashley Walters) uncover the truth behind his wife's disappearance?
Jennifer Ehle stars as Helen Sadler, an investigator with the UK Space Flight Authority, tasked with uncovering what happened to Claire. Sceptical that Claire left the Lunar Module of her own freewill, her enquiry begins to expose the secrets concealed within Mission Control.
The UK’s Prime Minister Christopher Scott, Alex Hassell, is polished, pragmatic and disciplined. He has built his centrist political identity on the belief that Britain must competeon a global stage, and as the crisis begins to deepen, he finds his position increasingly precarious. How far will Christopher go in pursuit of his own personal ambition?
With the action switching between Mission Control in the UK and the lunar surface, this is a race against time like no other, with the remaining astronauts under increasing pressure and Ben hoping against hope that he and his wife can be reunited. But how well can two people really know each other?
First Woman is co-produced by leading indie Mammoth Screen (Code of Silence, Towards Zero, Betrayal), part of ITV Studios, Alcon Television Group (Blade Runner 2099, The Expanse) and ZDF Germany. The series is being co-financed by Alcon Television Group and ITV Studios.
The thrillingly suspenseful scripts are from lead writer Lydia Yeoman (Curfew), George Oakes and Ben Schiffer. Cinematic in scale and ambition, First Woman is produced by Julia Stannard (The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Trigger Point, War and Peace) and directed by Philip Martin (Scoop, The Crown, Mo).
Andrea Riseborough & Ashley Walters To Star In ITV Thriller ‘First Woman’ About Race To Find Missing Astronaut
ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill has commissioned six part propulsive, lunar thriller First Woman, starring Andrea Riseborough (Academy Award nominee for To Leslie, The Good Boy and Goodbye June) and Ashley Walters (Emmy Award nominee for Adolescence, Toy Boy, Missing You), created by Lydia Yeoman (Curfew) and George Oakes, from his original idea, and directed by Emmy and BAFTA winning Philip Martin.
First Woman will be co-produced by leading indie Mammoth Screen (Code of Silence, Towards Zero, Betrayal), part of ITV Studios, Alcon Television Group (Blade Runner 2099, The Expanse) and ZDF Germany. The series is being co-financed by Alcon Television Group and ITV Studios.
When Ben Reith (Ashley Walters) is woken in his London home to be told that his wife Claire (Andrea Riseborough) has gone missing, it’s the start of a global news story, because Claire is an astronaut crewing the UK’s first moonbase and she’s disappeared into the long lunar night…
Claire is the first woman to set foot on the moon. A biologist taking part in a groundbreaking research project, her disappearance throws suspicion on her fellow astronauts and China’s rival base. With hundreds of thousands of miles between them, can Ben uncover the truth behind his wife's disappearance?
Commented Andrea Riseborough:
“As a kid, I dreamed, perhaps more than anything, of space. Of emptiness and stars, and the vastness of all that those ‘grounded’ reflected on in verse. I can’t imagine a kinder, bolder, braver team than Philip and Ashley with whom to step into that realm. This will be endlessly compelling - I hope - for all who want to journey with us. I cannot wait.”
Commented Ashley Walters:
“What an honour to be a part of such a bold and propulsive drama with a team of people that I have dreamt of working with. I always want to be a part of projects that make us converse and think outside the box. This one does just that.”
The thrillingly suspenseful scripts are from lead writer Lydia Yeoman (Curfew), George Oakes and Ben Schiffer.
Cinematic in scale and ambition, First Woman is produced by Julia Stannard (War and Peace, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Anne, Trigger Point) and directed by Philip Martin (Scoop, The Crown, Mo).
The series is executive produced by Mammoth Screen’s founder and Chief Creative Officer Damien Timmer alongside James Gandhi, Philip Martin, George Oakes and Lydia Yeoman. Mammoth Screen’s Creative Director Rebecca Keane has overseen the development of the series.
Alcon Television Group will co-produce the series with Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Scott Parish, Diego Piasek and Ben Roberts serving as Executive Producers.
ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill will be responsible for production of the drama from the broadcaster’s perspective.
Commented Polly Hill:
“I wanted ITV to make this the moment I read it. The team that has come on board on and off screen is incredible, and a testament to the wonderful and original scripts. Ashley Walters and Andrea Riseborough are such exciting casting, and Philip Martin is going to take the audience on such an incredible journey, that I am thrilled to share with the audience.”
Filming is underway in Belfast supported by Northern Ireland Screen. The production team is utilising Studio Ulster, the largest and most advanced virtual production studio in the UK, where the lunar landscape and moonbase have been created.
Commented James Gandhi and Damien Timmer:
“We’re excited to partner with Alcon on what is going to be one of the most ambitious ITV dramas ever made. First Woman will keep global audiences on the edge of their seats - it’s the ultimate emotional rollercoaster.”
Commented Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson on behalf of Alcon Television Group:
“First Woman is a gripping, character-driven thriller set against the backdrop of the modern space race, and we’re excited to partner with Mammoth Screen and ITV to bring this compelling story to audiences around the world.”
Commented Philip Martin:
“I was blown away reading Lydia and George’s brilliant scripts! It’s a rare thrill to find something so fresh, ambitious and emotional - and to have the chance to explore new worlds and tell such a powerful and deeply moving human drama in such an epic landscape!”
With the action switching between Mission Control in the UK and the lunar surface, this is a race against time like no other, with the remaining astronauts under increasing pressure and Ben hoping against hope that he and his wife can be reunited. But how well can two people really know each other?
Commented Lydia Yeoman:
“Set in the exciting (and as-yet-unexplored) world of private space travel, First Woman is a thriller unlike anything else we’ve seen. This is the story of a marriage put through the ultimate test. It’s rare that you get given the opportunity to tell a story with such ambition and scope, and we’re eternally grateful to Polly at ITV and Alcon for allowing us to do that.”
First Woman will be produced in association with and distributed internationally by ITV Studios. The production is supported with funding from Northern Ireland Screen.
UNIT VFX will work in close partnership with Mammoth Screen and Alcon delivering creative visual effects during production while POLI PRODUCTIONS creative Rob Carlisle collaborates with Philip Martin and Production Designer Gillian Devenney to create the spectacular lunar vistas.
BBC brings Danny Robins' The Witch Farm to the screen Inspired by the hit podcast of the same name, filming begins soon
IThe BBC has commissioned new drama The Witch Farm, starring Gabrielle Creevy (The Guest, Black Doves) and Michael Socha (Showtrial, What It Feels Like For A Girl) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in a co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales. A ghost story and mystery set in the Welsh countryside, the series is made by Mammoth Screen (Towards Zero, Code of Silence) part of ITV Studios, and is written by Danny Robins – creator of hit BBC paranormal podcast and TV series Uncanny, docu-drama podcast The Battersea Poltergeist and the West End play turned global phenomenon 2:22 - A Ghost Story.
South Wales, 1989. Bill and Liz Rich leave London for Heol Fanog, a remote modern farmhouse in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons, determined to make a fresh start. At first, the isolation feels like freedom. But when, in the midst of a traumatic home birth, Liz becomes convinced she’s seen a ghostly figure in the bedroom they start to feel increasingly afraid…
What follows is a steady escalation of the chillingly uncanny - unexplained disturbances and an unsettling sense that they are not alone. As Bill and Liz begin to investigate, the house draws them deeper into a history that refuses to stay buried. And as the land yields its secrets, so too does their marriage - testing the limits of trust, belief, and what they’re willing to deny in order to survive.
The Witch Farm is inspired by the real events, theories and first-hand accounts explored in Danny’s original podcast of the same name. In this four-part TV drama retelling some characters, elements and chronologies have been created or changed for dramatic purposes. Filming is due to begin soon.
Danny’s hair-raising portfolio of podcasts have been among the BBC’s most successful with Uncanny topping the list of most popular podcasts on BBC Sounds last quarter (October – December 2025). He has quickly become a leading voice in the UK on all things paranormal.
Writer, creator and executive producer, Danny Robins says:
"Making the original podcast series of The Witch Farm was an exciting, thrill-ride in itself - finding a real-life case that - just maybe - comes close to answering that biggest of all questions, ‘do ghosts exist?’. Now things are getting even more exciting, as we evolve the story into a TV drama with this fantastic cast and the brilliant director Stacey Gregg. Get ready for a supernatural thriller that plays out as the most deliciously dark detective story - an emotional rollercoaster that will have you gripped, moved and spine-tingled. I can't wait to spook you out."
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, says:
“Taking BBC Drama viewers into the hugely popular world of Danny’s podcasts for the first time is incredibly exciting, and in Gabrielle and Michael we have the perfect leads. Whether you're already a fan of Danny's work or are coming to the story of The Witch Farm for the first time, be prepared for some scares!"
Head of Commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales, Nick Andrews says:
‘‘The Witch Farm is a compelling Welsh story brought to life by some of the best in the business. Danny has crafted a gripping drama with rich character and a deep sense of place that is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats (and in some cases behind their sofas). BBC Cymru Wales is thrilled to play its part in bringing this nail-biter to the screen.”
James Gandhi, executive producer for Mammoth Screen, says:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing Danny Robins’s The Witch Farm to the screen. Danny is a master storyteller, and we hope this will thrill and terrify the BBC audience. We couldn’t be happier to have Stacey Gregg directing, and Gabrielle and Michael leading the cast!”
The Witch Farm (4x60) is written and created by Danny Robins, directed by Stacey Gregg, and produced by Megan Ott. The executive producers are Simon Barnard, Stacey Gregg and Danny Robins, James Gandhi and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, and Nawfal Faizullah and Rebecca Ferguson for the BBC. Mammoth Screen’s Creative Director Rebecca Keane has overseen the development of the series. Additional funding support has been provided by the Welsh Government via Creative Wales, the series will be produced in association with and distributed internationally by ITV Studios. The original podcast was a Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4.
‘The Forsytes’ Renewed For Season 3 At PBS Masterpiece
The Forsytes has been renewed for a third season before the period drama has even premiered on PBS Masterpiece.
The adaptation of John Galsworthy’s novel, The Forsyte Saga, will head into production on Season 3 next month in the UK and on location in Europe, Deadline hears.
Produced by Mammoth Screen, Season 1 premieres on PBS Masterpiece on March 22. The series has already debuted in the UK on 5, the Paramount-owned network. Season 2 was filmed last year.
A sweeping portrait of a wealthy British family in 1880s London, the show’s ensemble cast is led by BAFTA-winner Francesca Annis (Lillie), who plays formidable matriarch Ann.
True Blood star Stephen Moyer and Doctor Who actress Millie Gibson also feature alongside the likes of Jack Davenport (The Morning Show) and Eleanor Tomlinson (One Day).
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. Tomlinson plays Louisa Byrne, a Soho dressmaker and Jo’s first love.
Davenport plays Ann’s competitive younger son James. Joshua Orpin (Titans) stars as James’ shrewd son Soames, with Gibson featuring as his love interest. Eleanor Jackson, Naomi Frederick, Justine Moore, Owen Igiehon and Tom Durant Pritchard also star.
Debbie Horsfield (Poldark) penned the adaptation. Executive producers are Horsfield and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios. Susanne Simpson executive produces for Masterpiece.
The Forsytes is produced in association with ITV Studios, which handles international distribution, with PBS Distribution handling North American rights.
PBS’ ‘The Forsytes’ Puts a Glamorous New Spin on the Beloved Family Drama as the series premieres in the US.
Based on John Galsworthy’s novels known collectively as “The Forsyte Saga” and adapted to television by Debbie Horsfield, PBS Masterpiece’s latest historical drama, “The Forsytes,” is a sweeping narrative revolving around love, ambition and duty. The series is set in late 19th-century London and follows four generations of the Forsytes, who have lived and thrived as members of the nouveau riche for five decades. However, as the show begins, the family’s pristine facade is just on the verge of crumbling. Intriguing and quite soapy, “The Forsytes” is a story about expectations and the courage needed to thwart them.
The series opens at a critical point in the Forsytes’ lineage. It’s 1877, and Jolyon Forsyte (Danny Griffin), affectionately called Jo, has returned home from his travels in Europe to wed Frances (Tuppence Middleton), the recently widowed queen of London’s high society and mother to her 10-year-old daughter, June (Billie Joyce). Jolyon Forsyte Sr. (Stephen Moyer) sees Jo and Frances’ union as the key to solidifying a place in the London elite. As the eldest son, Jolyon Sr. wants Jo to take over his role as chairman of the family stockbroking company, Forstyes & Company. He also wants to ensure his younger brother, James (Jack Davenport), and his son, Soames (Joshua Orpin), are in no way positioned to gain control. According to Grandma Ann (Francesca Annis), Jolyon and James’ mother, the brothers’ rivalry has simmered for decades.
Flashing forward in time 10 years, the audience meets the Forsytes again in 1887. While the tension among the Forsyte brothers and their sons, Jo and Soames, has continued to cause strife and gossip amid dinners and celebrations, other things have changed drastically. On the eve of her 18th birthday, June (now portrayed by Justine Moore) desires a love match. Still, her mother and grandfather are determined that she marry well. Even June’s favorite person, her stepfather Jo, whom she now affectionately calls Papa, isn’t able to prevent Frances and Jolyon Sr’s schemes.
Moreover, at the stockbroking firm, Jolyon Sr. is considering retirement. This prompts James and Soames to plot Jo’s ousting from the company so Soames may assume the role of chairman. Unfortunately, unlike his cousin, Soames remains a bachelor, which doesn’t bode well for becoming the face of the business. Yet, when he sets his sights on Irene Heron (Millie Gibson), a recently destitute ballerina, Soames’ outlook on marriage changes. Similarly, though Jo has long stifled his personal passions to serve his father’s ambitions, he finds himself at a crossroads. A revelation shocks him awake, making it impossible for him to continue sleepwalking through his own life.
Throughout the six-episode first season, the Forsytes, particularly Jo and Soames, who have been pitted against each other, push and pull between their personal desires and the familial and social expectations they feel obligated to meet. While the men’s choices (and strangely modern wardrobes) are interesting and often unexpected, it’s the experiences of Frances, June and Irene in particular, even when they lean a bit toward the melodramatic, that stand out in this show. For 10 years, Frances has worked diligently to become the perfect wife for Jo. However, she quickly realizes perfection and control are not sustaining attributes. For her part, June is desperate for a marriage like her parents’, but having been so sheltered by Jo and her mother, she has no tangible understanding of what life without wealth and access is like. Finally, Irene dreams of dancing on a Parisian stage, but her father’s ailing health puts her hopes in jeopardy.
Despite its more modern look, “The Forsytes” is perfectly paced and paints a majestic portrait of a family standing on the cusp of change. While all the characters have compelling storylines, the women, who can only express their desires through their attachment to men, are the most compelling. A cautionary tale about love, trust and agency, the show highlights how few resources women of the era had and what they endured to achieve a life tolerable to them. Though lovers of the previous iterations of “The Forsyte Saga,” particularly 2002’s ITV version starring Damian Lewis, will undoubtedly have criticisms of this new series (namely its hyper-modern look), Horsfield’s version of “The Forsytes” is a solidly inspired adaptation. The show, which — aired last fall in the U.K. on Channel 5 — has already filmed its second season and has been renewed for a third, meaning the drama of “The Forsytes” is only just beginning to unfold.
ITV commissions a second series of the acclaimed thriller Code of Silence, starring Rose Ayling-Ellis, written and created by Catherine Moulton and produced by Mammoth Screen
ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, has commissioned a second series of the gripping thriller Code of Silence, following an overwhelming audience response and widespread critical acclaim for the first series, which launched on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday May 18.
Created and written by Catherine Moulton and produced by the award-winning Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, Code of Silence quickly became a breakout hit. The six-part drama was praised for its original and compelling storytelling, with Rose Ayling-Ellis delivering a standout lead performance. Rose was joined by a talented ensemble cast including Kieron Moore, Charlotte Ritchie, Andrew Buchan, Nathan Armarkwei Laryea, Joe Absolom, and Fifi Garfield, whose performances added depth and nuance to the series.
Critics responded enthusiastically, with four and five-star reviews. The series was described as “a landmark moment for inclusion and representation” and hailed as “the must-watch thriller of the year.” Rose Ayling-Ellis’s performance was particularly praised, while the production team and ITV were recognised for delivering a drama with genuine impact and talkability.
The series captivated audiences, with the first episode consolidating at 7.5 million viewers. Over 20 million streams have been recorded across the full box set, making Code of Silence the most-watched drama across all platforms and channels in Q2 of 2025. The series is currently averaging 6.4 million viewers.
Insights from a YouGov survey of viewers highlighted the drama’s powerful and authentic depiction of life with a disability. Audiences praised its portrayal of BSL within a gripping narrative, the reframing of lip-reading as a valuable skill, and the emotionally charged drama that left many eager for more.
Commented ITV Drama Commissioner, Callum Dziedzic:
"We are unbelievably proud of Code of Silence, and it’s been a joy seeing audiences embrace it - especially their love for the skilful, headstrong, and effortlessly loveable Alison. Rose brings her to life with real charm and depth, and Catherine’s brilliant concept gave her the perfect world to step into. We can’t wait to share another gripping case, with Alison’s talents and perspective delivering a thriller that’s pulse-pounding, distinctive, and like nothing else on TV."
Commented Rose Ayling-Ellis:
“I’m so proud that Code of Silence has been recommissioned. The response to the first series has been incredible, and it means so much to be part of a drama that not only keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, but also puts a Deaf character at the heart of the story. I’m really excited to see where Alison’s journey goes next and to be working again with the wonderful cast, crew and creative team behind the show."
Commented Catherine Moulton:
“I’m thrilled by the response to the first series of Code of Silence and so excited to be bringing Alison back for another case. It’s been a privilege to tell a story that opens up representation of the Deaf community, while also delivering suspense and twists. Rose brings so much heart and complexity to the role and I can’t wait to get started on the next chapter with her, ITV and the brilliant team at Mammoth.”
Commented Mammoth’s Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Damien Timmer:
“The response to Code of Silence has been incredible and we are all so excited to be returning for a second series. Rose Ayling-Ellis is an extraordinary talent, and Catherine Moulton’s storytelling continues to be both thrilling and deeply insightful. It’s a privilege to be working with both, alongside Polly, Callum and ITV, on a show that not only grips audiences, but also broadens perspectives in such a meaningful way.”
Development is underway on the second series, which is scheduled to begin filming next year. Further details on casting and production will be revealed in due course.
The second series will be executive produced by Damien Timmer, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Mammoth Screen, with Rose Ayling-Ellis and Catherine Moulton also returning as executive producers.
ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, and Drama Commissioner, Callum Dziedzic, will oversee the production on behalf of the broadcaster.
Code of Silence qualifies for ITV’s Diversity Commissioning Spend, a ring-fenced £80 million in the content commissioning budget over the next three years, for programmes that meet the qualifying criteria, which includes diverse company ownership or leadership, or two of the remaining three criteria around either diverse creative leadership, diverse stories and portrayal on-screen, or diverse salary spend.
Code of Silence is produced in association with and distributed by ITV Studios.
ITV Studios has secured an initial round of sales of the critically acclaimed first series, which has been acquired by Canal+ for France; ARD for Germany; SVT, NRK, DRTV, YLE for the Nordics; SBS Australia, Lionsgate in India and TVNZ New Zealand.
Series 1 is currently available to stream on ITVX and STV Player, and will premiere on BritBox North America on July 24.
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.