BBC Studios today announced Anna Chancellor, James Fleet, Ingrid Oliver, Ruth Madeley, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, and Bianca Simone Mannie have joined the cast of its original series, The Watch.
Co-produced with Narrativia for BBC AMERICA, The Watch is inspired by Sir Terry Pratchett’s bestselling “Discworld” novels.
Set in a fictional city where crime has been legalised, The Watch is a genre-busting series that follows a group of misfit cops as they rise up from decades of helplessness to save their corrupt city from catastrophe.
Anna Chancellor (Pennyworth, Trust) is set to star as Lord Vetinari, The Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, and architect of the city’snormalized wrongness and ramshackle system of governance. James Fleet (Outlander, The Vicar of Dibley) stars as The Archchancellor, wizard, magical advisor, and the Head of the Unseen University. Ingrid Oliver (Defending the Guilty, Doctor Who) stars as the Head of The Assassins’ Guild, Doctor Cruces. Ruth Madeley (The Rook, Years and Years) stars as the wiry Throat, the city’s best snitch, with a gang of freelance henchmen at her beck and call. Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Deep State, Dynasty) stars as Captain John Keel, former leader of The Watch and mentor to Sam Vimes, determined to save the corrupt and chaotic city. Bianca Simone Mannie (Homeland, Saints & Strangers) stars as the cunning Wonse, a wizard hopeful in waiting that is frequently underestimated.
Anna Chancellor says: “It’s been so exciting to join such a wonderfully creative team – from writer Simon Allen to the stunning production design and a truly talented group of actors – to help realise Terry Pratchett’s brilliantly anarchic yet strangely real and moving world. With the combining characteristics of Dracula and Elvis – Lord Vetinari has sprung to life in the most alarmingly joyful way.”
James Fleet says: “I’m delighted to be playing the Archchancellor. I think the writing and design catch the spirit of Terry Pratchett’s work and create a world of jeopardy and humour.”
Ingrid Oliver says: “It’s a joy to be part of The Watch and take on the role of Doctor Cruces. She’s such a fascinating character and pretty badass.”
Ruth Madeley says: "I’m so excited to be part of a world that Sir Terry Pratchett created. The character of Throat was male in the original books so for the team to cast me was extra exciting. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Throat develops and what mischief she can bring."
The line up will join the previously announced cast of Richard Dormer (Captain Sam Vimes), Adam Hugill (Constable Carrot), Jo Eaton-Kent (Constable Cheery), Marama Corlett(Corporal Angua), Lara Rossi (Lady Sybil Ramkin), and Sam Adewunmi (Carcer Dun).
Also announced today, Brian Kelly (Outlander, Poldark) and Emma Sullivan (Silent Witness, Doctor Who) have joined Craig Viveiros as directors for the series. The show’s lead writer is Simon Allen (The Musketeers, Das Boot).
The Watch is produced by BBC Studios and Narrativia for BBC AMERICA. It is executive produced by Richard Stokes (Torchwood, Broadchurch), Hilary Salmon (Luther, Three Girls) and Ben Donald (The Mallorca Files) for BBC Studios, Rob Wilkins (Good Omens) for Narrativia, Simon Allen and Craig Viveiros. Johann Knobel(Noughts and Crosses, Shameless) is series producer, and Simon Rogers (Doctor Foster, The Thick of It) is production designer. Director of Photography is John Pardue (Luther, Stan Lee’s LuckyMan). Costume Designers are Colleen Kelsall (Tolkien, Doctor Thorne) and Dihantus Engelbrecht (Noughts and Crosses), and Hair and Make Up Designer is Amanda Ross-McDonald (Black Sails, Strike Back). The Watch was commissioned for BBC AMERICA by Sarah Barnett, President, AMC Network’s Entertainment Group & AMC Studios, when she served as President and GM of the network. BBC Studios is handling distribution internationally.
The Watch, comprised of eight episodes, is currently filming in South Africa and is part of BBC AMERICA’s 2020 slate that includes the return of the award-winning series Killing Eve, Jodie Whittaker’s second season of Doctor Who and the landmark Sir David Attenborough-fronted series Seven Worlds, One Planet.
Staff Reporter
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