The BBC has acquired the terrestrial rights to Magpie Murders, which was shown on BritBox last year. Furthermore, the network has entered into a co-production with PBS Masterpiece to make its follow-up.
Magpie Murders -based on the book series by Anthony Horowitz – is a six-part murder mystery within a murder mystery, starring Academy Award-nominee Lesley Manville as editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland, and Timothy McMullan as famous literary detective Atticus Pünd. The cast also includes Daniel Mays, Michael Maloney, Conleth Hill, Alexandros Logothetis, Claire Rushbrook, Pippa Haywood, Matthew Beard and Harry Lawtey. It will air this spring on BBC One and iPlayer.
The follow-up – Moonflower Murders – will film later this year, and will see Manville and McMullan reprise the roles they originated in Magpie Murders. Further information about the series, which will receive its UK premiere on the BBC next year.
Horowitz says: “I’m very happy that Magpie Murders is going to be shown on BBC – its natural home. I had such fun writing the scripts and they’ve been brought to life by a brilliant director and cast.”
The Killing Times 