UKTV take a peek inside Mark Gatiss drama Bookish

UKTV today releases a selection of first look images for the upcoming U&Original series, Bookish…

The six-episode series will air on specialist crime drama channel, Alibi. The production, to air in hour-long slots, has been created by Emmy Award-winning writer Mark Gatiss (Nolly, Sherlock) and is produced by Eagle Eye Drama.

“Bookish marries post-war nostalgia with the reckless and life-affirming atmosphere of the times, creating a fast-paced and stylish detective drama.” – UKTV

Mark Gatiss writes and stars as the erudite and unconventional Gabriel Book who, from his antiquarian bookshop, helps the police to solve a variety of mysterious crimes. With three main cases in the series, each storyline spans two-episode instalments.

London, 1946, is the dynamic, dangerous and chaotic setting for this stylish new detective drama, with the whip-smart and debonair Gabriel Book (Gatiss) at the very heart of the story: a maverick consultant detective to the local police. The thousands of books that line the shelves of his shop provide him with all the knowledge he needs to solve even the most puzzling of crimes.

Book has gathered around him a host of lovable, damaged misfits whom he informally protects, cajoles, and mentors. His wife Trottie (Walker) runs the wallpaper shop next door. She’s a charismatic adventuress whom Book loves deeply but not physically, for they are in a ‘lavender’ marriage to help conceal Book’s sexual orientation in a time when it was illegal to be gay.

Further cast include Polly Walker (Bridgerton, Line of Duty) as Book’s colourful wife, Trottie, alongside Connor Finch (Everything I Know About Love) as Jack, Elliot Levey (We Were the Lucky Ones, Quiz) as Inspector Bliss, Blake Harrison (Still Up, World on Fire) as Sergeant Morris and Buket Kömür (Our House) as Nora.

The series also features a wealth of guest stars including Joely Richardson as Sandra Dare, Daniel Mays as Eric Wellbeloved, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Stewart Howard, Paul McGann as Mr Kind, Michael Workéyè as Billy Fox, Luke Norris as Jesse MacKendrick, Jonas Nay as Felix and many more.

Bookish will air on Alibi in 2025. As international partner, Beta Film will handle the world sale.