US broadcaster BYUtv, has ordered a new four-part modern retelling of Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost” from BBC Studios Productions, produced in the UK with a cast of British actors.
Adapted by Jude Tindall, the series marks the first British drama commission by the network.
“‘The Canterville Ghost’ brings together the acclaimed storytelling that BBC Studios Productions is well known for with BYUtv’s unique brand of family entertainment,” said Andra Johnson Duke, head of content at BYUtv. “We are honored to partner with BBC Studios Productions to create a not-to-be-missed special event of supernatural proportions filled with humor and heart that each member of the family will enjoy.”
The cast includes Anthony Head (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) as Sir Simon de Canterville; James Lance (“Ted Lasso”) as Hiram Otis; Caroline Catz (“Doc Martin”) as Lucy Otis; Laurel Waghorn (“Holby City”) as Virginia Otis; Carolyn Pickles (“Broadchurch”) as Mrs. Umney; Haydn Gwynne (“The Windsors”) as Lady Deborah de Canterville; Jack Bardoe (“Belgravia”) as The Honourable Cecil Canterville; Harry Gostelow (“The Crown”) as Lord St. John Canterville; Lizzy Connolly (“Call the Midwife”) as Lady Henrietta Stilton; Fred Fergus (“Wonder Woman”) as Viscount Ralph Stilton; Jeff Rawle (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) as Bluey, the Duke of Stilton; Harry Taurasi (“The Borgias”) as Django Lovell; Cathy Tyson (“Mona Lisa”) as Masilda Lovell; and the voice of Jonty Stephens (“Life on Mars”) as Cesspitt; and introduces Joe and Tom Graves as Frank and Theo Otis, and Harriette and Charlotte Robinson as Patience and Charity Lovell.
Set in leafy 21st century rural England, “The Canterville Ghost” sees American tech billionaire Hiram Otis buy Canterville Chase, unaware that the contents include a malevolent family ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, who has been haunting the premises for centuries. Or that his family will face the full might of the English aristocracy: united in opposition to the parvenu Americans. The contemporary reimagining of the classic Oscar Wilde comedy revolves around three families – the aristocratic Cantervilles, the Romani Lovells and the American Otises – who must come together to find redemption and heal the past.
“This is Oscar Wilde meets ‘Downton Abbey,’” said Will Trotter, executive producer for BBC Studios Productions. “It’s bursting with gothic horror, romantic comedy and pathos. We are thrilled to be working with BYUtv on such an uplifting drama for the whole family, and we hope it brings much laughter to BYUtv audiences.”
“The Canterville Ghost” is a four-part, hour-long limited series that has been commissioned by head of content Andra Johnson Duke for BYUtv, and comes from the award-winning team behind hit series like “Father Brown” and “Shakespeare & Hathaway.” It is produced by BBC Studios Productions, written by Jude Tindall (“Father Brown,” “Shakespeare & Hathaway”) and executive produced by Will Trotter (“Father Brown,” “Shakespeare & Hathaway,” “Doctors”). “The Canterville Ghost” will be brought to the screen by directors Paul Gibson and Suri Krishnamma. The script producer is Neil Irvine, and the series producer for BBC Studios Productions is Sue Howells. BBC Studios is distributing the series internationally.
Jon Creamer
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