Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned cozy British mystery?
For those who do, BritBox has a plethora of programming coming up this fall that is sure to appeal to fans of U.K. television.
In addition to the arrival of a highly anticipated Agatha Christie whodunit, new offerings coming up on the BBC’s streaming service also include the return of a gritty prison drama with the addition of new star David Tennant.
‘Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence‘
BBCDescribed as “the first contemporary English-language Agatha Christie adaptation,” this new series recasts one of Agatha Christie’s most delightful literary creations in modern-day England.
Following the exploits of a detective duo prone to falling in and out of love with each other while solving murders, “Tommy & Tuppence” adds an irresistible comedic twist.
Per the synopsis, “impulsive Tuppence (Antonia Thomas, “The Good Doctor”) and loveable try hard Tommy (Josh Dylan, “The Buccaneers”) rise again. Mixing what made the screwball comedy and playful romance that made this crime solving couple beloved, with a cast representative of the energy of modern London, this series will please old fans — and new — alike.” Premiere: September 15
‘Ludwig’ Season 2
BBCPicking up from the end of Season 1, master puzzle-setter John “Ludwig” Taylor (David Mitchell) is now officially a crime scene consultant with the Cambridge Police Authority, working alongside DCI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola) to solve seemingly “impossible” crimes.
“No longer having to masquerade as his brother, he’s openly more ‘Ludwig’ than ever — brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else,” reads the logline. “But John’s identical twin brother, James, is still missing, and now that he’s an official employee of the station, John is forbidden from using any police resources to look for his brother or uncover exactly what he was investigating. Of course, John won’t stop and neither will Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), John’s sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James. A puzzle needs solving and a husband and father needs bringing home. One masquerade may have ended, but a new one has just begun.” Premiere: October 13
‘Death Valley’ Season 2
BBCSet and filmed in Wales, this comic whodunit follows the exploits of an unlikely pair of sleuths: retired actor John Chapel (“Harry Potter” alum Timothy Spall) and disarming Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth).
Season 2 picks up a few months after the events of of the first season. With Janie now promoted to Detective Inspector, she’s overwhelmed with her new responsibilities as paperwork stacks up quicker than she can clear it. “To make matters worse, she’s been ignoring John since finding out he’s been dating her mum. Janie’s hand is forced after a murder in a Community Payback group when DCI Barry Clarke forces her to bring John Chapel in as the department’s consultant,” notes the logline.
“Season 2 sees John reluctantly re-enter the world of acting, on the set of an epic Welsh fantasy TV series, when the pair are called to investigate a murder,” the logline continues. “Will this foray into his old thespian passion ignite something once forgotten in John? One thing is certain, whether investigating a murder in a coastal fishing village, a sustainable commune or the competitive world of rugby, John and Janie will continue to bring justice to the mid-Wales region.” Premiere: November 17
‘Time’ Season 3
BBCThis acclaimed series focusing on life behind bars returns with a third season, this time set within a Young Offenders Institution to explore the impact of incarcerating teenagers and the effects on those who look after them.
“Prison Chaplain Marie-Louise (Siobhan Finneran) comes to the YOI having lost her faith,” notes the synopsis. “When tragedy strikes in the prison, Marie-Louise clashes with veteran officer Bobby Bailey (David Tennant), a man in the midst of his own crisis. Bailey knows more about the circumstances that led to this major incident — but will he come clean before the guilt gets too much? Meanwhile, two teenage young offenders, Peter and James (Ollie McNulty and Louis McCarthy) struggle through the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration. Can James ever face his broken parents after an unforgivable act of violence and will Peter tell the truth about the death of an innocent man, or does family loyalty mean more? An unlikely friendship between them looks to shift the trajectory of their futures, but in an increasingly unstable environment, is change ever possible?” Premiere: TBA
‘Blue Lights’ Season 4
BBC“Probation might be over for Grace (Sian Brooke, ‘Sherlock’), Tommy (Nathan Braniff) and Annie (Katherine Devlin, ‘The Day of the Jackal’) but it isn’t getting any easier to control the ongoing drug pipeline in Northern Ireland,” reads the logline. “A limitation on police resources is making everything more difficult and threatening the future of Blackthorn Station. Beyond the station doors, a rise of anti-immigration violence is bringing riots to the streets and the toxic legacy of the Troubles still runs deep. Faced with chaos on the streets and pressure from above, the section is forced to radically reconsider the way they work – and the place they call home.” Premiere: TBA
