PBS confirms premiere date for new 1950s crime drama ‘Magpie Murders’

It’s been announced when Magpie Murders make its debut on American television.

The new “crime drama with a twist” is adapted by Foyle’s War creator Anthony Horowitz from his own acclaimed 2016 novel.

Starring Lesley Manville – best known for her roles in World on Fire, Mum, and Harlots – the series launched in the UK earlier this year.

Magpie Murders is described as “a murder mystery within a murder mystery, spanning two time periods (1950s and contemporary Britain) with cast portraying multiple characters in different literary dimensions.”

Watch the trailer:

 

Manville leads the cast as Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest mystery novel, with little idea it will change her life.

She’s joined by Game Of Thrones actor Conleth Hill as Conway, author of the fictitious Atticus Pünd novels.

The cast also includes Matthew Beard (Vienna Blood), Tim McMullan (Foyle’s War), Daniel Mays (Ashes to Ashes), Pippa Haywood (Bridgerton), Michael Maloney (The Crown), Alexandros Logothetis (The Island), and Claire Rushbrook (Whitechapel).

Magpie Murders will be airing in the US this autumn as part of PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery season.

The upcoming season of British crime drama programming also includes brand new episodes of Endeavour and a seventh season of Grantchester.

Magpie Murders premieres on PBS at 9/8c on Sunday nights from 16th October until 20th November.

It’ll be broadcast alongside Unforgotten star Nicola Walker’s new series Annika, and the return of Miss Scarlet and the Duke.

Watch a teaser for 2022’s Masterpiece Mystery shows:

 

Magpie Murders was a hit for BritBox when it arrived on UK screens in February.

The Times said that “Lesley Manville is a superb twist on Miss Marple,” while The Arts Desk wrote: “Finding a fresh twist on the traditional detective mystery is virtually impossible, but Anthony Horowitz made a bold stab at it with Magpie Murders.”

Lesley Manville has a packed 2022 ahead, playing the new Princess Margaret in The Crown, starring in new 1950s drama Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, and hopefully shooting the long-awaited second season of World on Fire.

Foyle’s War is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.