AIR DATE SET FOR BOOKISH PERIOD SET SERIES WITH MARK GATISS, POLLY WALKER, JACOB FORTUNE LLOYD, JOELY RICHARDSON, TOM FORBES, LUKE NORRIS, DANIEL MAYS

 BOOKISH PERIOD SET SERIES 

REVEALS JULY START DATE AT AT UKTV'S ALIBI

UKTV's Alibi channel has shot a new six episode series from Mark Gatiss who also stars as a book shop-owning sleuth and we have the first clip from it. With the start date set for July, the series has also been renewed for a second season to arrive next year. Set in 1946 London BOOKISH will see him play the erudite and unconventional Gabriel Book, who helps the police to solve a variety of mysterious crimes from his antiquarian bookshop. With three main cases in the brand new series starting this July, each storyline spans two episodes.

 

  LONDON, 1946

is the dynamic, dangerous and chaotic setting for this stylish new detective drama, with the eccentric Gabriel Book at the very heart of the story: a self-appointed consultant detective to the local police. The thousands of books that line the shelves of his shop provide him with all the knowledge he needs. Book has gathered around him a host of lovable, damaged misfits whom he informally protects, cajoles, and mentors. 

 

 WHO IS IN  THE CAST?

 Polly Walker will play his wife Trottie, a charismatic adventuress whom Book loves but not physically, for they are in a ‘lavender’ marriage to conceal Book’s sexual orientation in a time when it was illegal to be gay. Joely Richardson, Daniel Mays, Jonas Nay, Connor Finch, Elliot Levey and Buket Kömür also star. Blake Harrison joins the returning core cast members as Sergeant Morris, with Rosie Cavaliero, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Tom Forbes, Amanda Drew, Luke Norris, Ella Bruccoleri and Michael Workéyè. Check out the first clip below:

We’re so excited about Bookish (which starts this July!) that we went ahead and asked @Markgatiss to write a second series!

Bookish Series Two. Written by and starring Mark Gatiss. Coming 2026. pic.twitter.com/QaLCA83P55

— U&Alibi (@alibi_channel) May 16, 2025