Acorn TV Sets January Slate With ‘Detectorists’, ‘Girlfriends’ & More
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. streaming service Acorn TV has set its January slate of premiering and returning international dramas and comedies. They include two Acorn TV Originals, Detectorists and Girlfriends as well as New Zealand legal drama, Dear Murderer. Acorn has steadily expanded its role as co-producer and in January will be participating for the first time at the TCAs with an executive panel and panels for Girlfriends and Irish drama Striking Out.
Detectorists, the BBC comedy Acorn boarded as North American co-producer this summer, returns for Season 3 on January 15 with six new episodes. Starring Mackenzie Crook (Game Of Thrones) and Toby Jones, the BAFTA-winning series centers on two oddball metal detecting enthusiasts scouring the beautiful English countryside for treasure. Rachael Stirling (The Bletchley Circle) and Diana Rigg also return for Season 3.
On January 22, Kiwi drama Dear Murderer kicks off its first five-episode season. The series is based on the book by the widow of larger than life barrister, Michael Bungay (Mark Mitchinson), one of New Zealand’s most infamous characters. He was a flawed but unique rogue, who did what was necessary and always what was possible and occasionally the impossible.
And on January 29, ITV drama Girlfriends, from Love, Lies & Records creator Kay Mellor, debuts the first two episodes, followed by a new episode each week. Oscar nominee Miranda Richardson stars with Downton Abbey‘s Phyllis Logan and Zoe Wanamaker (Agatha Christie’s Poirot). The six-part drama follows three friends struggling with the responsibilities that come with being a modern woman of a certain age.
Acorn Media Enterprises, the UK-based development division for the Acorn brand of RLJ Entertainment, co-produced Season 3 of Detectorists with DRG, Channel X North, Lola Entertainment and Treasure Trove Productions; and Girlfriends with All3Media International and Rollem Productions.
Mark Stevens, Chief Content Officer of Acorn Brands, says, “Following another record year with five Acorn TV Originals plus more than 30 exclusive U.S. premieres of first-rate international dramas and comedies, we’re thrilled to start off 2018 with two more Acorn TV Originals. Detectorists has been embraced by our subscribers and the U.S. media for its subtle humor, casting and Mackenzie Crook’s first-rate writing, so we are very excited to join as co-producers for the new season. Additionally, with her addictive storylines and ideal casting, Kay Mellor has charmed our audiences with November’s Love, Lies & Records, and we can’t wait to show them her next series, Girlfriends, soon after ITV’s premiere.”
During January, Acorn will also feature the streaming exclusive and U.S. debut of mid-1990s British crime drama Supply & Demand, from the creator of Prime Suspect. Further new to the service are select seasons of 90s crime drama McCallum, documentary The Story Of Math, animal series The Yorkshire Vet and Murdoch Mysteries.
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