BBC Acquires Rights To ‘Magpie Murders’ & Sequel Series ‘Moonflower Murders’
The BBC has picked up the linear broadcast rights to Anthony Horowitz’s critically acclaimed mystery series ‘Magpie Murders‘, which originally aired on Britbox in the UK, and will also exclusively air the sequel series, ‘Moonflower Murders‘, the broadcaster has announced.
In a fresh, beguiling twist on the traditional murder mystery, with a solution that will both astonish and shock viewers, Magpie Murders – adapted from Horowitz’ bestselling novel by the author himself – centres on book editor Susan Ryeland and the unfinished mystery manuscript featuring her unpleasant, prima donna author’s longtime detective, Atticus Pünd.
When Susan attempts to attain the final chapters, she’s plunged into a shocking mystery case of her own – one which will change her life in ways she’d never expected. Artfully weaving between two interlocking time periods, the 1950s and the present day.
“I’m very happy that Magpie Murders is going to be shown on BBC – it’s natural home,” commented Horowitz. “I had such fun writing the scripts and they’ve been brought to life by a brilliant director and cast.”
The series stars Academy Award-nominee Lesley Manville (‘The Crown’, ‘Phantom Thread’) as editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland, and Timothy McMullan (‘Patrick Melrose’, ‘The Serpent’) as famous literary detective Atticus Pünd.
The cast also includes BAFTA-nominated Daniel Mays (‘1917’, ‘Line of Duty’), Michael Maloney (‘Belfast’, ‘The Trial Of Christine Keeler’), double Olivier award-winning Conleth Hill (‘Vienna Blood’, ‘Game of Thrones’), Alexandros Logothetis (‘The Island’, ‘Business in the Balkans’), Claire Rushbrook (‘Sherwood’, ‘The Split’), Pippa Haywood (‘Bodyguard’, ‘Bridgerton’), Matthew Beard (‘Vienna Blood’, ‘Dracula’) and Harry Lawtey (‘Industry’, ‘Benediction’).
“I’m delighted that BBC viewers will have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful Magpie Murders, and its highly anticipated follow-up, Moonflower Murders,” adds Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition. “With their stellar cast and ingenious storylines, they are a truly distinctive and entertaining take on the murder mystery genre.”
The follow-up series, ‘Moonflower Murders’, will film later this year, and will see Manville and McMullan reprise the roles they originated in ‘Magpie Murders’. The original series was produced by Eleventh Hour Films production for BritBox UK and PBS Masterpiece and is distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television. The follow-up will be produced for the BBC and PBS Masterpiece by Eleventh Hour Films, in association with Salt Films, and distributed worldwide by Sony.
‘Magpie Murders‘ does not yet have an exact premiere date, but will air on BBC One in Spring 2023. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
