Acorn TV Commissions Third Season of Whitstable Pearl starring Kerry Godliman
Buccaneer to produce popular crime drama based on Julie Wassmer novels
London, UK; February 2nd, 2024 – Acorn TV, AMC Networks’ streaming platform specializing in British and international television, and leading UK independent production company Buccaneer (Irvine Welsh’s Crime, The Doll Factory, The Burning Girls) today announced a third season commission of the popular British crime drama Whitstable Pearl starring Kerry Godliman (Ricky Gervais’ After Life).
Based on the much-loved novels, “The Whitstable Pearl Mysteries” by Julie Wassmer, the third six-part series (6 x 45’) sees the return of Godliman in the lead role as Pearl Nolan and Howard Charles as DCI Mike McGuire. Other returning cast members include Frances Barber as Dolly, Robert Webb as Tom Grant, Isobelle Molloy as Ruby Williams and Sophia del Pizzo as DS Nikki Martel.
Mike Walden (Marcella) returns as writer for season three alongside Sarah Louise Hawkins (Miss Scarlet & the Duke), Joe Ainsworth (Sanditon), Ciara Conway (Holby City) and Kit Lambert (Death in Paradise).
Whitstable Pearl explores the dark undercurrents of murder and debauchery swirling beneath the surface of the picturesque 16th century English seaside town of Whitstable, famous for its native oysters and buffeted by the prevailing winds and spray of the North Sea.
We join our eponymous sleuthing restaurant owner for a third series as Pearl continues to build her private detective business, she finds herself involved in more diverse investigations, including reopening an infamous local cold case and the death of a famous food critic. She’s aided and abetted by her outspoken, feisty mum Dolly and still going strong with boyfriend Tom. But it’s navigating her complex relationship with DCI Mike McGuire that still proves Pearl’s most challenging case, as Mike and his partner, DS Nikki Martel, support Pearl with each of her investigations.
Distributed internationally by Cineflix Rights, the Acorn TV Original Series will begin production in Whitstable, England in March 2024. The series will exclusively premiere on Acorn TV in North America, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Julie Wassmer said “I’m thrilled that Whitstable Pearl will be returning for a third season, as are those all around the world who have taken this series to their hearts – together with its magical setting. Be prepared for more edge-of-the-seat drama, intriguing cases for Pearl and McGuire to solve and perhaps the greatest mystery of all – will they finally get together?”
Kerry Godliman said, “I’m so excited to once again be portraying Pearl Nolan in the third season of ‘Whitstable Pearl’. I love playing such a rich character and can’t wait to get back to Whitstable to bring more of Julie Wassmer’s wonderful storytelling to the screen”.
Catherine Mackin, Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises (Acorn TV), shared, “With the utmost pleasure, we return to the whimsy of Whitstable and Pearl Nolan’s incomparable sleuthing. The Acorn TV audience have been big fans of the series since season one, episode one and we’re elated by Kerry’s, Buccaneer’s and the creative’s team relentless dedication to keeping this series fresh and engaging.”
Tony Wood and Richard Tulk-Hart, joint CEOs of Buccaneer said “It’s a delight to be back with Pearl and the gang in Kent. Whitstable Pearl is at the heart of our company: it’s a well-loved quality popular drama that runs and runs.”
James Durie, Head of Scripted at Cineflix Rights said “Whitstable Pearl has been a great success for us, with multiple sales of seasons 1 and 2 to buyers all over the world. We are thrilled to be able to offer up another season to the show’s global fanbase”.
The producer of the series is Debbie Pisani. Executive Producers are Tony Wood and Richard Tulk-Hart for Buccaneer, Catherine Mackin and Bea Tammer for Acorn Media Enterprises (Acorn TV), Øystein Karlsen, Mike Walden and Julie Wassmer.
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Press Contacts:
Acorn TV, Joy Phillips, joy.phillips@amcnetworks.com
Buccaneer, Justin Crosby, justin@boomdialogue.com
About Acorn TV
AMC Networks’ Acorn TV is North America’s largest streaming service specializing in premium British and international television. Acorn TV adds exclusive programming every week to a deep library of revered mysteries, dramas, and comedies – all commercial-free. Acorn TV’s recent slate is comprised of critically acclaimed commissioned and original series including popular New Zealand detective series My Life Is Murder (Lucy Lawless), acclaimed Irish crime thriller Bloodlands (James Nesbitt, co-executive produced by Jed Mercurio), British crime drama Whitstable Pearl (Kerry Godliman), Emmy®-nominated Queens of Mystery, Kiwi romantic comedy Under the Vines and British detective drama Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel), to name a few. Current and upcoming Acorn TV Original Series include UK detective drama Harry Wild (Jane Seymour), tasty murder mystery Mrs. Sidhu Investigates (Meera Syal), Signora Volpe (Emilia Fox), The Chelsea Detective (Adrian Scarborough) and many more. The above add to a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas including Agatha Raisin (Ashley Jensen), Jack Irish (Guy Pearce), Doc Martin (Martin Clunes), Deadwater Fell (David Tennant, Cush Jumbo), all 23 seasons of fan-favorite Midsomer Murders and highly-rated drama The Nest, among others.
“glorious streaming service… an essential must-have” – The Hollywood Reporter
“Netflix for the Anglophile” – NPR
Facebook: OfficialAcornTV – Twitter: @AcornTV – Instagram: @Acorn_tv
About Buccaneer
Buccaneer is a London-based international content production company led by joint CEOs Tony Wood and Richard Tulk-Hart.
The company’s mission is to partner with the industry’s best talent, global streaming platforms and broadcasters around the world to create premium scripted content for the international marketplace. Buccaneer currently has projects with partners including Paramount+, NRK, Acorn, Participant and ITV.
Buccaneer works with a world-class stable of literary and directing talents including Lars Lundström, Øystein Karlsen, Jenni Fagan, C.J.Tudor, Hans Rosenfeldt, Charley Miles, Ingeborg Topsøe, Sandhya Suri, Irvine Welsh, Dougray Scott, Elizabeth MacNeal, Rose Lewenstein, Baltasar Kormakur and John Brownlow. Productions include ‘Desi Rascals’, the award-winning co-production with Gurinder Chadha (‘Bend It Like Beckham’) for Sky and scripted dramas ‘Marcella’ which aired to global critical acclaim and saw Anna Friel winning an Emmy for her lead performance as Marcella Backland, and two series of ‘Whitstable Pearl’ starring Kerry Godliman (‘After Life’) for Acorn TV.
Other recent Buccaneer productions include ‘The Doll Factory’ for Paramount+. The best-selling novel by Elizabeth Macneal is being adapted by Charley Miles and stars Esmé Creed Miles (‘Hanna’), the second season of Irvine Welsh’s ‘Crime’ for ITVX starring Dougray Scott (‘Mission: Impossible 2, The Woman in White’), who won an International Emmy and Scottish BAFTA for his performance as DI Ray Lennox. Buccaneer also recently produced ‘The Burning Girls’’, Hans Rosenfeldt’s (‘Marcella’, ‘The Bridge’) adaptation of CJ Tudor’s best-selling novel for Paramount+, which stars Samantha Morton (‘The Serpent Queen’, ‘The Walking Dead’). Upcoming productions include ‘So Long, Marianne’ with Øystein Karlsen’s Redpoint Productions (‘Dag’, ‘Lilyhammer’, ‘Exit’, ‘Whitstable Pearl’) and Connect3 Media for NRK, and ‘The Blade Artist’ a follow up to Irvine Welsh’s ‘Trainspotting’ starring Robert Carlisle who will reprise his role as Begbie.
Buccaneer is a partnership with Canada’s Cineflix Media.