AMC NETWORKS’ ACORN TV AND CHANNEL 5 ORDER DOUBLE SERIES FOR DETECTIVE DRAMA DALGLIESH
   
BERTIE CARVEL TO RETURN AS CHIEF INSPECTOR ADAM DALGLIESH

London, Wednesday 6th July 2022: AMC Networks’ Acorn TV and Channel 5 today announce a double series order for detective drama Dalgliesh. New Pictures (Des, The Missing, Cobra) have been commissioned to produce both series with additional funding from Northern Ireland Screen. Acorn Media Enterprises are distributor for both series in North America, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, with All3Media International distributor for the rest of the world. The double series commission was ordered by Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, UK, Paramount.   

The second series of Dalgliesh (6 x 60’) will adapt another three novels from P.D. James’ international best-selling murder mysteries with each being told over two hour-long episodes. Bertie Carvel (Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse, Doctor Foster) will reprise the role of the uniquely enigmatic detective, Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh.   

In Death Of An Expert Witness, when a young girl is found murdered in a field, the scientific examination of the exhibits is just a routine job for the staff of Hoggatt's forensic science laboratory, but when the senior biologist is found dead in his laboratory, Dalgliesh is called to the bleak fens of East Anglia, where the murderer is lying in wait to strike again.  

A Certain Justice sees Venetia Aldridge QC, a distinguished barrister, agree to defend Garry Ashe, accused of the brutal murder of his aunt. Just four weeks later, Miss Aldridge is found dead at her desk. As Dalgliesh narrows the field of suspects, a second brutal murder draws them into greater complexities of intrigue and evil.   

Finally, in The Murder Room, Dalgliesh is acquainted with the Dupayne Museum and its sinister murder room celebrating notorious crimes committed in the interwar years. When he is called to investigate the killing of one of the trustees, it seems everyone has something to gain from the crime. When it becomes clear that the killer is prepared to kill again, Dalgliesh knows that to solve this case he has to get into the mind of a ruthless killer.   

Series three will continue the novels by P.D. James, filming in 2023. Details on the third series will be released in due course.   

Catherine Mackin, Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises said: “Bertie Carvel’s expert portrayal of Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh delivers a lasting charm and sophistication that is unmatched and, clearly, a must-watch. We are absolutely elated to return for not one, but two, mysterious and compelling seasons. We’re grateful to our partners at New Pictures, All3Media and Channel 5.”    On the additions to Channel 5’s expanding drama slate Sebastian Cardwell said: “Dalgliesh proved incredibly popular with our viewers, and I’m delighted to be working again with New Pictures to bring to life even more stories from P.D James’ crime novels.”   

Elaine Pyke, Executive Producer, New Pictures said: “I’m absolutely thrilled with the commission of not just one but two series of Dalgliesh. The reaction to series has been a delight. I look forward to continuing New Pictures’ collaboration with Channel 5, AMC, All3Media International, the P.D. James estate and Bertie Carvel to tell the future stories of Adam Dalgliesh."   

Acclaimed screenwriter and playwright Helen Edmundson (The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, An Inspector Calls, Small Island) returns as lead writer for the second series with Stewart Harcourt (Maigret, Hearts and Bones, Treasure Island) also joining the series as writer for A Certain Justice. Andy Tohill and Ryan Tohill (The Dig, Insulin) will return to direct the episodes for A Certain Justice and Geoff Sax (Us, Endeavour Victoria) joins to direct Death of an Expert Witness. BIFA-nominated Brendan Mullin (Boys From County Hell, Bad Day For The Cut) will produce the series with Elaine Pyke, Willow Grylls, Emily Russell and Helen Edmundson serving as Executive Producers for New Pictures. New Pictures is a part of All3Media.   

Filming on the second series is currently underway in Northern Ireland with series 2 set to transmit on Channel 5 in 2023.   

 ENDS 

For further enquiries please contact: 

Kate Keilty | kate.keilty@vimn.com 
Emily Holmes | emily.holmes@vimn.com 

Joy Phillips | joy.phillips@amcnetworks.com     

About AMC Networks Inc: AMC Networks (Nasdaq: AMCX) is a global entertainment company known for its popular and critically-acclaimed content. Its brands include targeted streaming services AMC+, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, ALLBLK, and the newest addition to its targeted streaming portfolio, the anime-focused HIDIVE streaming service, in addition to AMC, BBC AMERICA (operated through a joint venture with BBC Studios), IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv and IFC Films. AMC Studios, the Company’s in-house studio, production and distribution operation, is behind some of the biggest titles and brands known to a global audience, including The Walking Dead, the Anne Rice catalog and the Agatha Christie library.  The Company also operates AMC Networks International, its international programming business, and 25/7 Media, its production services business.   

About Acorn TV: AMC Networks’ Acorn TV is North America’s largest streaming service specializing in premium British and international television. Acorn TV adds exclusive programming every week to a deep library of revered mysteries, dramas, and comedies – all commercial-free. Acorn TV’s recent slate is comprised of critically acclaimed commissioned and original series including popular New Zealand detective series My Life Is Murder (Lucy Lawless), acclaimed Irish crime thriller Bloodlands (James Nesbitt, co-executive produced by Jed Mercurio), British crime drama Whitstable Pearl (Kerry Godliman), Emmy®-nominated Queens of Mystery, Kiwi romantic comedy Under the Vines and British detective drama Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel), to name a few. Current and upcoming Acorn TV Original Series include UK detective drama Harry Wild (Jane Seymour), Signora Volpe (Emilia Fox), The Chelsea Detective (Adrian Scarborough), Darby and Joan (Bryan Brown, Greta Scacchi) and many more. The above add to a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas including Agatha Raisin (Ashley Jensen), A Place to Call Home, Jack Irish (Guy Pearce), Doc Martin (Martin Clunes), Deadwater Fell (David Tennant, Cush Jumbo), all 22 seasons of fan-favorite Midsomer Murders, highly-rated drama The Nest, and ground-breaking period drama A Suitable Boy, among others. “glorious streaming service… an essential must-have” – The Hollywood Reporter “Netflix for the Anglophile” – NPR Acorn TV is available for $6.99/month or $69.99/year. Facebook: OfficialAcornTV – Twitter: @AcornTV – Instagram: @Acorn_tv   

About Channel 5: Channel 5 is a public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been part of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS) since its acquisition in September 2014.   Channel 5 and its digital brands – 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select, 5ACTION and the on-demand service My5 – offer a diverse range of issue-led documentaries & popular factual celebrating the British countryside and drawing talent to the channel, accessible history, premium drama and critically-acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming. Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 leads on societal issues from inequality to homelessness and mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation.   In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald. The following year, Raped: My Story won best Single Documentary at RTS. In 2020, it won Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Awards and by the RTS. In addition that year, it secured its first ever Grierson award win in the ‘Best Single Documentary – Domestic’ category with Suicidal: In Our Own Words. In 2021, it won best factual entertainment at the Broadcast Awards for Springtime on the Farm. It also won best drama at Voice of the Listener & Viewer for All Creatures Great & Small the same year.  

About New Pictures: New Pictures has a peerless reputation for reinvigorating the mystery genre (The Missing, Rellik, The Decieved), subversive takes on period (Catherine the Great, Indian Summers, Spanish Princess) and claustrophobic menace (The Innocents, Requiem) and leaders in true crime (Des, White House Farm). They are currently in production with Cobra for Sky One and The Spanish Princess 2 for Starz. The executive team have produced or commissioned over a thousand hours of award-winning drama for every major UK broadcaster and for HBO, Starz, Cinemax, Netflix, WGBH, CBS, MTV and Showtime in the USA. Previous to New Pictures Elaine was the controller of Sky Atlantic and Controller of Scripted for Sky.   

About All3Media International: All3Media International distributes popular, award-winning TV programmes to over 1,000 broadcasters and media platforms around the world.   The company has been celebrated for producing, marketing and distributing quality, ground-breaking and pioneering shows to a global audience – consistently topping the Broadcast and Televisual annual Indies Surveys and we have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of our growth – twice. Our catalogue contains over 15,000 hours of content across all genres.   As well as Britain’s top-selling drama series MIDSOMER MURDERS, our quality scripted content includes FLEABAG, THE MISSING, SKINS, MYSTERY ROAD, NATIONAL TREASURE, LIAR and VAN DER VALK. Non-scripted and format highlights include GOGGLEBOX, UNDERCOVER BOSS, GORDON RAMSAY’S 24 HOURS TO HELL AND BACK, FLIRTY DANCING, THE DOG HOUSE and RACE ACROSS THE WORLD. As part of the UK’s leading multi-label studio we partner with industry-leading UK and international producers – including our own studios – in developing, financing and delivering content and formats.   

About Northern Ireland Screen: Northern Ireland Screen is the national screen agency for Northern Ireland.  We are committed to maximising the economic, cultural and educational value of the screen industries for the benefit of Northern Ireland.  This goal is pursued through our mission to accelerate the development of a dynamic and sustainable screen industry and culture in Northern Ireland.