Bookish, the London-set detective series created by and starring Mark Gatiss, has just shared a first-look teaser for its returning second season, giving fans a glimpse at what’s in store for the show’s band of characters.
Gabriel Book (played by Gatiss) will of course be at the centre of the new crime-solving stories, joined by other returning characters Trottie Book (Bridgerton’s Polly Walker), Jack Blunt (Everything I Know About Love’s Connor Finch), Sergeant Morris (World on Fire’s Blake Harrison), Inspector Bliss (Endeavor actor Elliot Levey), and Nora (Generation Z’s Buket Kömür).
We had also previously been treated to some first-glimpse photos, which revealed Jason Watkins (McDonald and Dodds) and Ruth Codd’s (The Midnight Club) new characters, as each of them are joining season two in guest-star roles.
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Watkins is set to play a character called Harold Sneed, described in the synopsis as a medium who Book comes across when a mysterious investigation enters the world of spiritualism.
The second season of Bookish is also set to take Gabriel Book to a “puzzling murder” at a gentleman’s outfitters just off Savile Row, as well as venturing to a “charming” German village to “thwart a thieving Duchess”, according to the official description.
Other starry new arrivals to Bookish include Miranda Richardson (Blackadder, Good Omens), Rupert Graves (Sherlock), Youssef Kerkour (Stay Close), Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), Ingrid Oliver (The Thursday Murder Club, Sweetpea), John Hopkins (Masters of the Air), and Oli Fyne (Call the Midwife).
Bookish first premiered on U&alibi last year (with a second season already confirmed before its release), and the series was reported to have an “incredible” launch by the channel, becoming its second highest-performing premiere ever (based on consolidated figures for its first seven days).
The popular series currently boasts a 100% perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. In reviews of the first season, LA Times said: “Like the best, by which I mean my favorite such series, it’s humorous and fun, while also being human and sad.”
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Meanwhile The Guardian said: “A fine piece of entertainment – meticulously worked, beautifully paced and decidedly moreish. It has enough spikiness to stop it being formulaic but enough love for the genre to keep it comforting. A joy.”
Digital Spy’s four-star review called Bookish “one of this year’s best TV surprises”, adding that Gatiss’s Gabriel is “fascinating” and “mesmerising” to watch – which is “especially impressive when you consider just how many detectives are vying for our attention on TV these days”.
Billed as a “period detective drama with a difference”, Bookish is set in the late ’40s in London and follows the “whip-smart” titular character who is something of a consultant to the local police. The returning second season has promised us “more thrilling cases” – and is expected to hit screens this summer.
Bookish season 1 is available now on Sky, Virgin Media and NOW, and season 2 is coming soon.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Â Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. Â As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).Â