Acorn TV has set the cast for Queens Of Mystery. Julie Graham (The Bletchley Circle, Shetland), Siobhan Redmond (Alfresco, Between the Lines), Sarah Woodward (The Politician’s Husband, New Blood) and Olivia Vinall (Apple Tree Yard, Maigret) have been set as the leads in the North American streaming service’s British drama series.
Queens Of Mystery follows perennially single female detective Matilda Stone (Olivia Vinall) and her three aunts, who are well-known crime writers that help her solve whodunit style murders as well as set her up on blind dates. Julie Graham has been cast as Matilda’s rebellious Aunt Cat; Sarah Woodward as Matilda’s motherly Aunt Beth; and Siobhan Redmond as book smart Aunt Jane
Rounding out the cast is Andrew Leung (Doctor Who) as the dashing Dr. Daniel Lynch; Rebecca Grant (Doctors, Holby City) as Daniel’s mean-spirited 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. Guest stars include Selina Cadell (Doc Martin), Omid Djalili (Dickensian, The Mummy), and Chu Omambala (Liar).
The drama series was originally commissioned by Acorn Media Enterprises, the UK-based development division for the Acorn brand of RLJ Entertainment, last month. It is produced by Sly Fox Productions and Ferncroft Media and is set to enter production in Kent next week. Acorn will make the series available internationally as either three feature length episodes of 6×45 episodes.
This marks the second fully fledged UK original drama series and third commission overall for Acorn Media Enterprises. After co-producing UK productions for the past several years, they dipped their toe in the waters by stepping up to commission a second season of Agatha Raisin after the UK co-production partner (Sky One) opted not to continue with the Ashley Jensen fronted drama. That was followed by their first fully original commission London Kills, which hails from Suspects creator Paul Marquess, and now Queen Of Mystery. None of the three series presently have UK broadcasters attached.
“For our third sole commission, Acorn Media Enterprises with Sly Fox Productions have put together a stellar cast of British talent led by Olivia Vinall, Sarah Woodward, Siobhan Redmond and Julie Graham”, said Catherine Mackin, Managing Director of Acorn Media Enterprises. “Queens of Mystery goes into production this month, and we’re thrilled by Julian Unthank’s scripts and know Acorn TV subscribers will love this fun, new mystery series.”
