Bridgerton and Line of Duty stars come together in first look at new detective drama from Sherlock actor

Polly Walker, Joely Richardson, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd,  Daniel Mays in Bookish
Polly Walker, Joely Richardson, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Daniel Mays in Bookish (UKTV)

UKTV has shared a first look at its upcoming detective drama, Bookish, from Emmy Award-winning writer Mark Gatiss (Sherlock), who also stars in the drama alongside Bridgerton's Polly Walker and Line of Duty actor Daniel Mays.

Mark Gatiss as Gabriel Book in Bookish
Mark Gatiss stars as Gabriel Book in Bookish (UKTV)

The six-part series, which airs on Alibi in 2025, follows "erudite and unconventional" antiquarian bookshop owner Gabriel Book as he helps the police solve a variety of mysterious crimes. The stylish detective drama features three main cases, with each storyline spanning two episodes.

Polly Walker as Trottie in Bookish
Polly Walker plays Trottie (UKTV)

Polly, who plays Gabriel's wife Trottie, and guest-star Daniel, who plays the role of Eric Wellbeloved, are joined by Connor Finch (Everything I Know About Love) as Jack, Elliot Levey (Quiz) as Inspector Bliss, Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners, World on Fire) as Sergeant Morris and Buket Kömür (Our House) as Nora.

Some major guest stars also appear in the drama, including Joely Richardson (The Gentlemen) as Sandra Dare, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (Bodies, The Great) as Stewart Howard, Paul McGann (Annika) as Mr Kind, Michael Workéyè (This is Going to Hurt) as Billy Fox, Luke Norris (Poldark) as Jesse MacKendrick, and Jonas Nay (Concordia) as Felix.

Daniel Mays as Eric Wellbeloved in Bookish
Daniel Mays guest stars as Eric Wellbeloved (UKTV)

Set in the "dynamic, dangerous and chaotic setting" of 1940s London, the show focuses on the "whip-smart and debonair" Gabriel Book, a maverick consultant detective to the local police.

You may also like

The synopsis continues: "The thousands of books that line the shelves of his shop provide him with all the knowledge he needs to solve even the most puzzling of crimes.

Joely Richardson as Sandra Dare and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Stewart Howard in Bookish
Joely Richardson as Sandra Dare and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Stewart Howard (UKTV)

"Book has gathered around him a host of lovable, damaged misfits whom he informally protects, cajoles, and mentors. His wife Trottie (Walker) runs the wallpaper shop next door. She's a charismatic adventuress whom Book loves deeply but not physically, for they are in a 'lavender' marriage to help conceal Book's sexual orientation in a time when it was illegal to be gay."

Bookish comes to Alibi in 2025.