Bookish is created, written by and starring Mark Gatiss
- The Guardian – ‘An arch, high camp slice of crime-solving fun’
- Daily Star – 5****
- Sun TV Mag – 5****
- TV Times – 5*****
- The Times – 4****
- Daily Telegraph – 4****
Jason Watkins, Miranda Richardson, Simon Callow, Rupert Graves and many more join the cast of Bookish(6x70’) for the second series of the hit U&alibi drama. The series is created by Emmy Award-winning writer Mark Gatiss and is produced by Eagle Eye Drama, part of ITV Studios and, as international partner, Beta Film is handling the world sales, with PBS Distribution holding North American rights.
The first series of Bookish aired on U&alibi earlier this year and saw an incredible launch, averaging 1.5 million viewers (TC)* and exceeding benchmarks to land as the channel’s second highest performing premiere ever**.
Joining the cast for series two are, Jason Watkins (The Game, McDonald & Dodds)as Harold Sneed and Miranda Richardson (The Last Anniversary) as Duchess Alberta, alongside Simon Callow (Étoile, The Boy That Never Was)as ‘E’, Rupert Graves (Surface, Washington Black) as Colonel Reggie Winters, Claire Skinner (Outnumbered, Coma) as Mrs Calthrop and Youssef Kerkour (Home, Stay Close) as Yusuf.
Guest stars will also include Ricky Champ (Eastenders, Piglets) as Kendall, Allan Corduner (Tár, Homeland) as Maxie Kleinmann, Liza Sadovy (A Real Pain, Patience) as Ruth Kleinmann, Oli Fyne (Call the Midwife, Stella) as Hannah Kleinman, Ingrid Oliver (The Thursday Murder Club, Sweetpea) as Liesl Pohl and John Hopkins (A Very Royal Scandal, Masters of the Air) as Guy Windjammer. This series will also see the return of Rosie Cavaliero (Funny Woman, Kaos) as Ada Dredge, Gerard Horan (Belgravia: The Next Chapter, Detectorists) as Mr Baseheart, Nadia Albina (A Thousand Blows, All of You) as Dr Calder and Jonas Nay (Messiah Superstar, The Tattoist of Auschwitz) as Felix.
Mark Gatiss stars as Gabriel Book, alongside Polly Walker as Trottie Book and Connor Finch as Jack Blunt. The series also stars Elliot Levey as Inspector Bliss, Blake Harrison as Sergeant Morris and Buket Kömür as Nora.
London 1946 is the setting for Bookish, with viewers introduced to the appropriately named Gabriel Book (Gatiss) who owns a bookshop in Archangel Lane. If his War was packed with espionage and secrets, Book’s Peace is just as full of adventure! Now he helps the police solve the strangest of crimes and the knottiest of murders.
In the second series, Book investigates the world of spiritualism when he’s asked to help solve the mysterious case involving medium, Harold Sneed (Watkins). Off Savile Row, Bliss asks Book to help in a puzzling murder at a gentleman’s outfitters - the elderly tailor Maxie Kleinmann (Corduner) is keen to confess to the murder but the evidence doesn’t quite stack up and points to something much more complex and sinister. And Book and Jack are sent to the seemingly charming German village of Würl by the mysterious ‘E’ (Callow) to thwart a thieving Duchess (Richardson) at Christmas time. However, festivities take a deadly turn when Book and Jack uncover secrets of their own, past and present, in an ominous castle brimming withplausible murder suspects.
Book’s close association to the police continues to be not without its personal dangers and his lavender marriage with childhood best friend Trottie (Walker), is threatened by debonair Colonel Winters (Graves.) Marrying post-war nostalgia with the reckless and life affirming atmosphere of the times, Bookish is a stylish period detective drama with a difference.
The U&Original series has been commissioned by Helen Perry, head of drama commissioning for UKTV, and ordered by Emma Tibbetts, director of programming - scripted, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Executive producers for Eagle Eye Drama are Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino. The series is co-written with Matthew Sweet and Ian Hallard. Carolina Giammetta returns once again to direct the second series, and the producer is Jake Harvey.
Bookish is produced in association with Happy Duck Films and is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter.
All six episodes are available to stream via Sky, NOW and Virgin Media. The spin-off book, also titled Bookish and written by co-writer Matthew Sweet is available to purchase.
For more information, please contact:
Kelly Phelps, Publicity Manager, UKTV
Lauren Mutimer, Publicist, UKTV
Notes for Editors:
*Total consumption across its 6 episodes
*consolidated figure is for 1-7 day viewing including preview
ABOUT U&ALIBI
Sky 109/826, Virgin 126/200, BT 312/382, TalkTalk 312, TV Player
On demand on Sky, Virgin, NOW
U&alibi is the only TV channel dedicated to crime drama, investigating the best selection from the genre and premiering hit series from around the world such as CSI: Vegas,The Hunting Party, Dark Winds and Black Sands.
U&alibi’s offering of U&Original crime drama series give viewers guaranteed thrills, twists and turns through hit shows including Annika, starring Nicola Walker, Traces, starring Molly Windsor and Martin Compston and We Hunt Together, starring Eve Myles and Babou Ceesay. Other series include Barcelona-set drama, The Diplomat, starring Sophie Rundle, The Red King, from writer Toby Whithouse and starring Anjli Mohindra, Marc Warren and Adjoa Andoh, I, Jack Wright, starring Nikki Amuka-Bird and John Simm, and Welsh drama, Mudtown, starring Erin Richards and Tom Cullen. Bookish, created, written by and starring Emmy Award-winning writer Mark Gatiss, has been a recent hit for U&alibi, becoming the second highest performing premiere ever, with this set to return for a second series in 2026.
U&alibi is also home to fan favourites, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Murdoch Mysteries and Hudson and Rex, and gives viewers another chance to catch hugely popular British crime dramas including Death in Paradise, Father Brown and Silent Witness.
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands – U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, U&eden, U&GOLD and U&alibi - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview, Freesat and Freely; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV’s content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media. UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress
About EAGLE EYE DRAMA
Eagle Eye Drama was formed by Walter Iuzzolino, Jo McGrath and Jason Thorp, the same three founders and creative team behind the global drama company Walter Presents. The company produces dramas and animations, based both on adaptations and original ideas. In 2022, Eagle Eye launched new Belgian based company Happy Duck Films.
Follow Eagle Eye Drama on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
About BETA FILM:
A leading European independent film and television group, Beta produces, finances, and distributes television and film for the global market. With over 30.000 hours of content, we manage one of the largest libraries in Europe, including numerous Oscar and Emmy-winning productions. For 65 years, we have been nurturing strong partnerships with creatives, broadcasters, streamers, distributors, and festivals. As an experienced and independent player, we create alliances and hold stakes in over 40 production companies and distribution labels, while also operating special interest channels throughout Europe. Founded in 1959 by Leo Kirch and owned by Jan Mojto since 2004, Beta is based in Munich, Germany, with offices in the US, Latin America, the Middle East, and throughout Europe.