9 September 2021
UKTV today announces that Drama will exclusively broadcast Sister Boniface Mysteries (10x60'). Lorna Watson (Watson & Oliver), Max Brown (Downton Abbey), Jerry Iwu (Halal Daddy), Miranda Raison (MI-5), and Ami Metcalf (Allied) are set to star as the leads of the light-hearted murder mysteries series.
Set in 1960s rural England, this entertaining detective drama follows the investigations of Sister Boniface of St Vincent's Convent - nun, moped rider, wine maker and part-time forensic scientist. The popular character, brought to life by Lorna Watson, first appeared on screens in the Father Brown episode "The Bride of Christ". Created by Jude Tindall (Father Brown) and produced by BBC Studios Drama Productions, the ten-episode series will also see a special appearance from Mark Williams (Father Brown).
Sister Boniface Mysteries dives into the endearing world of Great Slaughter and its secret weapon in its fight against crime, Sister Boniface. At a time when police forensics is rudimentary, Boniface's I.Q. of 156, her PHD in forensic science, plus an addiction to popular detective fiction and a fully equipped crime laboratory make her an invaluable aid to Police investigations. Mud, blood, stains, hairs and fibres. If there is evidence to be found Boniface will find it. Poisons, trace evidence, blood stains, etymology. She's more up to speed on the latest forensic techniques than the Police.
In her role as official Police Scientific Advisor, Boniface works alongside the dashing maverick Detective Inspector Sam Gillespie, played by Max Brown, and Detective Sergeant Felix Livingstone portrayed by Jerry Iwu. Felix was supposed to be on secondment to the Metropolitan Police but an administrative error lands him in Great Slaughter. A cast of eccentric local characters combined with his boss's reliance on a nun leave him reeling. Although as Sam points out, that "Nun" ensures they have the highest clean-up rate in the county.
Miranda Raison joins the cast as Ruth Penny, a hard-nosed investigative journalist and editor of the Albion Bugle. Ami Metcalf will play the role of Peggy Button, the young, unshakeable police constable. The cast also includes Belinda Lang, Sarah Crowden, David Sterne, Virginia Fiol, Ivan Kaye, and more as supporting roles.
Lorna Watson said of her return to the role,
I can't wait to get back in the habit and fight crime in Sister Boniface Mysteries! She is such a fun character to play. In many ways she's ahead of her time and I love her for that. It's not every day you get to play a crime solving, Vespa driving nun.
Sister Boniface Mysteries has been acquired for UKTV by Charlie Charalambous, global acquisitions manager. It comes from the award-winning team behind hit series like Father Brown and Shakespeare & Hathaway. It is produced by BBC Studios Drama Productions, created by Jude Tindall (Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway) and executive produced by Will Trotter (Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway, Doctors). Peter Bullock (Father Brown) is the series producer and Neil Irvine (Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway) is the script producer. BBC Studios Distribution is the global distributor for the series.
Charlie Charalambous said,
Sister Boniface Mysteries is a hugely exciting new series and it's a real privilege to bring it to the UK as one of our key acquisitions for next year.
Emma Ayech, Drama channel director added,
We know our viewers love the best that British drama has to offer, so we're thrilled that we can offer them a brand new series from Jude Tindall that they won't find anywhere else on British television.
Executive producer Will Trotter says,
Sister Boniface is an eccentric, charming, witty crime-solver with a forensic eye for detail. With the series set in the fabulous 1960's bucolic English countryside, it's a family viewing treat.
Sister Boniface Mysteries will air exclusively in the UK on UKTV's free-to-air channel Drama, and on-demand service UKTV Play in 2022.
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For more information, please contact: Mel Lynch, Publicist. UKTV
Notes for Editors:
About UKTV UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.
UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
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About BBC Studios Drama Productions With its history, scale and world-class distribution arm, BBC Studios is uniquely positioned to be the most ambitious and diverse drama producer in the UK. Its mission is to create magnetic shows that cut through to all audiences and work on the global stage, to find voices unheard and stories untold, to bring distinctive drama to the forefront of the global cultural conversation. BBC Studios Drama Productions work in partnership with some of the world's most creative minds - whether new or established writers, directors, on-screen talent - to deliver bold British drama at its very best. Its expertise and ambition have launched critically acclaimed powerhouse brands like Doctor Who and Luther as well as iconic dramas including Silent Witness and ground-breaking Criminal Justice (adapted for HBO as The Night Of), to more recent successes We Hunt Together (for UKTV and Showtime) and provocative single dramas such as The Left Behind and Murdered for Being Different. New shows in 2021 range from Jimmy McGovern's exciting mini-series Time starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, Smother a riveting thriller for RTE and The Break for BBC Three showcasing up and coming emerging talent.
BBC Studios Productions makes around 2000 hours of content annually for the BBC and other UK and international broadcasters and received 79 awards and over 300 nominations over the past year, making it the most awarded producer in the UK. BBC Studios, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK's independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for programme titles.
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About UKTV Play UKTV Play is an on demand TV service providing instant access to shows from UKTV's free-to-air channels - Dave, Yesterday and Drama.
With the easy-to-use UKTV Play app you can browse and stream hundreds of shows for free via your computer, tablet or smart phone. You can also watch on the telly thanks to Freeview Play, Amazon Fire TV, YouView, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Freesat, NOW and Roku.
If you're a Sky, Virgin Media or BT TV customer, shows from other great UKTV channels - Gold, W, Alibi, and Eden - are also on the menu.
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