US streaming service Acorn TV has fully funded a new series of Agatha Raisin starring Ashley Jensen.
Agatha Raisin was created for television by Free@Last TV and was first commissioned by Sky, the new series will be fully funded by Acorn.
Barry Ryan and David Walton will continue to produce the series with Michele Buck from Company Pictures remaining on board as Executive Producer and Guy Hescott as producer. Acorn Media Enterprises (AME), the UK-based development division for the Acorn brand of RLJ Entertainment, has partnered with Free@LastTV and Company Pictures to co-produce the new season along with Acorn Media International distributing in all English-speaking territories and International distributor all3media International distributing in the rest of the world.
Ashley Jensen returns in the lead role as a London PR turned amateur sleuth, who becomes entangled in mischief, mayhem, and murder when she opts for early retirement in a small village in the Cotswolds.
Series 2 begins production in April 2018 for a late 2018 premiere. Series 2 will adapt three of MC Beaton’s novels, The Wizard of Evesham, The Curious Curate and The Fairies of Fryham and will be available internationally as three 90-minute television movies or six 45-minute episodes.
Shane Murphy, Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises, said, “After our success with co-producing several critically-acclaimed Acorn TV Originals including Love, Lies & Records, Striking Out, and Agatha Christie’s The Witness for the Prosecution, we’re thrilled to bring back our first Original Series as our first commission. When the UK broadcaster chose not to renew it, Acorn decided to step in and fully commission the show itself in-order to keep this terrific series going for our subscribers. We’re ecstatic to make it our first official full commission. We look forward to announcing several more commissions in the coming months.”
Acorn TV General Manager Matthew Graham, adds, “After another record year and ending 2017 with our biggest month of acquisitions yet in December, we’re thrilled to announce our first commission. Agatha Raisin remains one of Acorn TV’s most popular series and the fans have been clamoring for new episodes since its premiere in August 2016.” Graham notes, “2018 is shaping up to be our best year yet with even more exclusives and Originals for our subscribers. Acorn TV will feature ten Acorn TV Originals including BBC comedy Detectorists, new ITV drama Girlfriends and the return of Irish legal drama Striking Out, as well as exclusive new seasons of A Place to Call Home, Delicious, The Heart Guy, The Good Karma Hospital, The Brokenwood Mysteries, 800 Words, and Murdoch Mysteries, among many other much-loved series. As an independent SVOD, we’re passionate about curating the very best in British television as well as amazing series out of Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and more.”
Returning for Series 2 are Agatha’s former assistant, Roy (Mathew Horne, Gavin and Stacey); eager Detective Constable Bill Wong (Matt McCooey); and her cleaner, Gemma (Katy Wix, Torchwood).
Acorn Media Enterprises continues to grow Acorn TV’s Originals slate and is the exclusive U.S. partner for several series in 2017, including the BBC One adaptation of Agatha Christie’s A Witness for the Prosecution, starring Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, and Kim Cattrall; Ireland’s #1 new drama series Striking Out, which recently finished production on Series 2 for 2018; ITV murder mystery drama Loch Ness starring Laura Fraser (Breaking Bad); contemporary Irish thriller Acceptable Risk; and BBC One drama Love, Lies & Records. Coming up in 2018, Acorn TV Originals include Series 3 of universally adored BBC comedy Detectorists (Jan. 15), Kay Mellor’s ITV drama Girlfriends (Jan 29) starring Phyllis Logan (Downton Abbey), Miranda Richardson (Stronger, And Then There Were None), and Zoe Wanamaker (Agatha Christie’s Poirot), Striking Out, Series 2 (March 16) starring IFTA winner for Best Drama Actress Amy Huberman, fast-paced Wales thriller Keeping Faith, and international crime drama Straight Forward, among others.
Staff Reporter
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