New Pictures detective drama to continue on Acorn TV

New Pictures’ detective crime drama reboot Dalgliesh has secured a fourth series on Acorn TV, including an entirely original story.

The drama, which is produced in association with All3Media International and Northern Ireland Screen, will continue on the AMC-owned streamer without 5 as its co-production partner, after the PSB decided to end its association with the drama. The UK broadcaster had co-commissioned the series with Acorn TV for its past three series.

Dalgliesh’s fourth run will see Bertie Carvel return as the enigmatic investigator, based on PD James’ best-selling murder mystery novels. However, one episode will be a newly conceived story from The Suspicions of Mr Whicher writer Helen Edmundson, rather than following James’ book plotlines.

Set in 1982, the six-hour, three-part series will bring further labyrinthine cases for Commander Adam Dalgliesh to untangle with the help of his colleague DI Clive Roscoe (Ludwig’s Sam Swainsbury).

The first instalment, ‘A Mind to Murder,’ follows the killing of an officious administrator in an experimental private psychiatric clinic, which puts each of her colleagues in the spotlight and draws light on the questionable treatment of patients. In ‘Original Sin,’ the mysterious death of an upstart publisher leads to the unravelling of a decades-old mystery, full of dark revenge and heartache.

Edmundson’s episode has been given the blessing of the PD James’ Estate and will see Dalgliesh investigate a murder of an ex-inmate at a women’s prison in London, the murder draws attention to her aristocratic cell mate and reignites questions about a highly publicised murder trial.

Dalgliesh comes after the culmination of five-year successful partnership between 5 and Acorn, after the broadcasters tied for a reboot following predecessors on ITV and BBC.

The debut series of the reboot averaged 3.8m after 28 days to make it one of 5’s highest rating dramas of 2021, with both PSB and Acorn recommissioning a double series order in 2022.

Series four is written and adapted by Edmundson, and Nick Drake. It is directed by Geoff Sax, Roger Goldby, Ryan Tohill and Andy Tohill. It is produced by Adam Philpott and Marie-Thérèse Mackle, and the exec producers are Elaine Pyke and Willow Grylls for New Pictures, and Bea Tammer and Don Klees for Acorn Media Enterprises.

“Dalgleish delivers exactly the type of suspenseful, character-driven drama our audience craves, and we’re thrilled for it to return to our lineup of the very best in crime drama murder mystery,” said Acorn TV’s senior vice-president of programming Klees.

Pyke, co-founder and creative Director of New Pictures, added: “It’s a real pleasure returning to the world of Dalgliesh, brought to life by the brilliant Helen Edmundson and Bertie Carvel.”

Dalgliesh S4 will stream on Acorn TV from 2027 in the US, Canada and the UK. Acorn TV will hold the exclusive rights in the US, Canada and the UK with All3MI as the international distribution partner.