‘Bookish’, a brand-new U&Original series created by and starring Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen, Sherlock), brings a stylish, post-war twist to the classic detective genre when it premieres this July on U&Alibi, with a double-bill launch. The series will also be available to stream on demand via Sky, Virgin Media and NOW.
Set in London in 1946, ‘Bookish’ follows Gabriel Book, a fastidious, eccentric, and instinctively brilliant bookseller whose wartime experience in espionage hasn’t quite prepared him for peacetime. Now, instead of secret codes and dossiers, he spends his days surrounded by dusty tomes in his Archangel Lane bookshop. But murder has a way of finding him. With an encyclopaedic memory and a knack for sniffing out secrets, Book assists the police in solving some of the city’s strangest crimes. His access to crime scenes is helped along by a quietly powerful weapon — a personal letter from Winston Churchill, tucked in his breast pocket, that opens doors and silences questions.
Book lives with his glamorous, fearless and fiercely loyal wife Trottie, played by Polly Walker (Bridgerton, Rome). Their marriage is one of deep affection and understanding, providing cover in a society that would condemn Book’s homosexuality. When the couple take in Jack Blunt, a recently released young ex-con played by rising star Connor Finch, the stage is set for a new chapter of mystery, mentorship and unexpected family.
Also starring Elliot Levey (Cabaret, Quiz) as Inspector Bliss, Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners) as the gruff Sergeant Morris, and Buket Kömür (Generation Z) as crime-obsessed teen Nora Yazici, the ensemble cast brings warmth, charm and bite to a rich and complex post-war world. Guest stars across the six episodes include Daniel Mays, Rosie Cavaliero, Tim McInnerny, Joely Richardson, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, and Paul McGann.
Each story plays out over two episodes, blending intricate murder plots with character-driven storytelling and period detail. From bomb-site skeletons and poisoned chocolates to suspicious cocktails and film-set feuds, the mysteries are inventive, darkly comic, and full of heart. The show’s richly designed sets, filmed in atmospheric Belgian locations, bring 1940s London to vivid life with a “colour noir” visual palette inspired by the golden age of British cinema.
The first two episodes see Jack’s arrival at the bookshop coincide with the discovery of human remains at a nearby bombsite, followed by the suspicious death of the local chemist. As Jack is drawn into Book’s eccentric methods and unconventional household, he begins to uncover not only crimes but his own past.
Created and co-written by Mark Gatiss and historian Matthew Sweet, ‘Bookish’ is both a celebration of golden-age detective fiction and a thoughtful exploration of queerness, secrecy, and chosen family in a society recovering from war.
‘Bookish’ has already been renewed for a second season, which will continue to explore the mysteries of Archangel Lane and delve deeper into the characters’ hidden histories.
‘Bookish’ Season 1 premieres with a double-bill on Wednesday, 16th July at 8pm on U&Alibi, and is available to stream on demand via Sky, Virgin Media and NOW.
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