The Acorn TV Original Series stars Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, and Sarah Woodward;
Florence Hall joins the cast
Images: https://amcnetworks.box.com/s/7kpyawcz2ppzthi6dfuzpthe3qt6sum8
London, UK; March 17, 2021 – AMC Networks’ Acorn TV renews one of its most popular Acorn TV Original crime series with the return of British drama Queens of Mystery from Sly Fox Productions. Created for television by writer Julian Unthank (Doc Martin, New Tricks), the second series features returning cast members Julie Graham (The Bletchley Circle, Shetland, Penance), Sarah Woodward (The Pale Horse) and Siobhan Redmond (Unforgotten) with Florence Hall (The Princess Switch: Switched Again) joining the cast as Matilda. Series 2 went into production on March 1, 2021 in Kent in South East England for three feature length movies, which will also be available as 6 x 45’ episodes. Acorn TV has all global rights to the series and will premiere it as an Acorn TV Original Series in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, and Latin America. Acorn Media International is distributing in all other territories.
Called a “surefire crowd-pleaser” by the Los Angeles Times, and picking up an Emmy nomination for Juliet Stevenson’s wry narration, Queens of Mystery follows a young female detective and her three mystery writing aunts who believe their knowledge of crime fiction makes them perfectly qualified to help her solve whodunit style murders in their home of Wildemarsh. The wickedly offbeat Amelie-esque style contemporary murder mystery series features bold visuals, quirky characters, fast-paced dialogue and darkly comic murders.
Catherine Mackin, Executive Producer and Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises, said: “Acorn TV is thrilled to renew Queens of Mystery, which remains one of our subscribers’ favorite series. We’re excited to get back into production with creator Julian Unthank, our friends at Sly Fox Productions and a stellar ensemble cast to showcase a strong female led story, a beautiful setting, and more entertaining mysteries.”
Linda James, Managing Director of Sly Fox Productions, said, “It’s joyous to be returning to our world of Wildemarsh for a second season of Queens of Mystery with gloriously entertaining scripts and our fantastic lead cast and director. We’re grateful to have such supportive executives at Acorn and such an appreciative audience around the world on Acorn TV.”
2-Part Mysteries:
“Sparring with Death” – When Matilda (Florence Hall) investigates a murder at Wildemarsh Wellness Retreat, she finds several people with distinctly ill-intentions towards each other. A second death leads Matilda to uncover a heart-wrenching tragedy, waiting to be avenged.
“The Modern Art of Murder” – A body is discovered at the opening of a new art gallery where her Aunt Cat (Julie Graham) is exhibiting. Matilda’s interviews of the suspects doesn’t paint a pretty picture, but after a second murder at the gallery she starts to realize there’s more to them than meets the eye.
“The Raven” – Matilda investigates what appears to be a robbery with clues reminiscent of her own mother’s disappearance — and then Aunt Jane (Siobhan Redmond) finds a body and the case becomes a murder. But as Matilda searches for the identity of the killer, there are other parties, much closer to home, who’d prefer Matilda not to disturb too many secrets.
Also returning for Series 2 are Andrew Leung (Doctor Who) as the dashing Dr. Daniel Lynch; Rebecca Grant (Doctors, Holby City) as Daniel’s girlfriend Natasha; Michael Elcock as Police Constable Terry Foster who has long been in love with Matilda; and Martin Trenaman (The Inbetweeners) as the dry Inspector Derek Throne.
Queens of Mystery, Series 2 will be scripted by Julian Unthank and Matthew Thomas (Marcella, Agatha Raisin) with Oscar® and BAFTA® winner Ian Emes returning as lead director. Theresa Varga joins as 2nd director. Sly Fox Productions’ Linda James and Savannah James-Bayly are producing with Tim Vaughan as associate producer. Also returning from the filmmaking team are Paul Englishby (Luther, The Witness for the Prosecution) as composer and Charlie Knight (The Bodyguard, Ted Lasso) as costume designer. The director of photography will be Sarah Bartles-Smith (Call the Midwife), production designer Maria Dagher (The Covenant), and hair and make-up designer Lisa Halstead (Back).
Called a “glorious streaming service… an essential must-have” (The Hollywood Reporter) and “Netflix for the Anglophile” (NPR), AMC Networks’ Acorn TV is the leading streaming service specializing in British and international television with subscribers worldwide in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Spain, Portugal, among other areas. In 2021, Acorn TV features several commissioned series including the second season of lighthearted Miss Fisher spinoff Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, British crime drama Whitstable Pearl, Kiwi romantic series Under the Vines and contemporary British detective series Dalgleish starring Bertie Carvel, as well as Irish crime thriller Bloodlands starring James Nesbitt and co-executive produced by Jed Mercurio, the return of New Zealand detective series My Life Is Murder starring Lucy Lawless, and a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas that include A Place to Call Home, Detectorists, Jack Irish and Foyle’s War. Recent Acorn TV Original series include Deadwater Fell starring David Tennant highly-rated BBC One drama The Nest; and groundbreaking BBC One period drama A Suitable Boy from Mira Nair.
Acorn Media Enterprises is Acorn TV’s UK-based development arm which works with producers, distributors, writers and broadcasters in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and beyond to commission, co-produce and co-finance the best international, English-language scripted shows. AME has commissioned Agatha Raisin Series 2, 3 and 4, Queens of Mystery, London Kills Series 1 and 2, as well as The Sounds, Dead Still, The South Westerlies, Keeping Faith, among several other productions.
About AMC Networks
AMC Networks is a global entertainment company known for its popular and critically-acclaimed content. Its portfolio of brands includes AMC, BBC AMERICA (operated through a joint venture with BBC Studios), IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, IFC Films, and a number of fast-growing streaming services, including the AMC+ premium streaming bundle, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and ALLBLK (formerly branded “UMC”). AMC Studios, the Company’s in-house studio, production and distribution operation, is behind award-winning owned series and franchises, including The Walking Dead, the highest-rated series in cable history. The Company also operates AMC Networks International, its international programming business, and Levity Entertainment Group, its production services and comedy venues business.
About Sly Fox Productions
Sly Fox Productions is the company of Linda James and Tim Vaughan. Having worked together previously to produce WITHOUT MOTIVE, WILDERNESS and WYCLIFFE at Red Rooster Film and Television Entertainment – one of the UK’s most successful drama production companies which Linda co-founded in the nineties – Linda and Tim re-united with Sly Fox Productions to produce quality, prime-time drama and scripted comedy. The company’s first series QUEENS OF MYSTERY, created by Julian Unthank and starring Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, Sarah Woodward and Olivia Vinall, was produced for Acorn TV, and launched in 2019 to critical acclaim, picking up an Emmy-nomination for Juliet Stevenson’s narration.