The BBC acquires star-studded mystery series Magpie Murders and announces sequel Moonflower Murders

Magpie Murders is a six-part murder mystery within a murder mystery, starring Academy Award-nominee Lesley Manville is editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland, and Timothy McMullan is famous literary detective Atticus Pünd.

The BBC has acquired Anthony Horowitz's critically acclaimed mystery series Magpie Murders, and will air its follow up, the forthcoming Moonflower Murders, which will be made by Eleventh Hour Films in association with Salt Films for PBS MASTERPIECE and the BBC.

Based on his chart-topping books of the same names, both series are adapted for television by Anthony Horowitz and executive produced by Jill Green. Magpie Murders is directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty, The Rocker).

Magpie Murders is a six-part murder mystery within a murder mystery, starring Academy Award-nominee Lesley Manville (The Crown, Phantom Thread) as editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland, and Timothy McMullan (Patrick Melrose, The Serpent) as famous literary detective Atticus Pünd. The cast also includes BAFTA-nominated Daniel Mays (1917, Line of Duty), Michael Maloney (Belfast, The Trial Of Christine Keeler), double Olivier award-winning Conleth Hill (Vienna Blood, Game of Thrones), Alexandros Logothetis (The Island, Business in the Balkans), Claire Rushbrook (Sherwood, The Split), Pippa Haywood (Bodyguard, Bridgerton), Matthew Beard (Vienna Blood, Dracula) and Harry Lawtey (Industry, Benediction). It will air this Spring on BBC One and iPlayer.

Moonflower Murders will film later this year, and will see Manville and McMullan reprise the roles they originated in Magpie Murders. Further information about the series, which will receive its UK premiere on the BBC next year, will be announced in due course.

Anthony Horowitz says: "I'm very happy that Magpie Murders is going to be shown on BBC - its natural home. I had such fun writing the scripts and they've been brought to life by a brilliant director and cast."

Jill Green says: "I'm so thrilled that this playful, distinctive murder mystery will now reach an even wider audience."

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: "I'm delighted that BBC viewers will have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful Magpie Murders, and its highly anticipated follow-up, Moonflower Murders. With their stellar cast and ingenious storylines, they are a truly distinctive and entertaining take on the murder mystery genre."

Made by Eleventh Hour Films, Magpie Murders was acquired from Sony Pictures, who distribute the series.

Moonflower Murders will be made by Eleventh Hour Films in association with Salt Films for PBS MASTERPIECE and the BBC. Both dramas are executive produced by Jill Green and Eleventh Hour Films and adapted by Anthony Horowitz, and are distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television and PBS Distribution in North America.

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