Pasadena, CA — BritBox, the hit streaming service from BBC Studios and ITV, today announced the addition of several new star-studded co-productions, live specials, renewals, short series and the acquisition of some of the most beloved UK programs ever. The new programming, unveiled by BritBox President and Founder, Soumya Sriraman, at the semi-annual gathering of the Television Critics Association (TCA) in Pasadena, underscores BritBox’s commitment to bringing the best of acclaimed UK programming – already the largest streaming service of its kind – to North America.

Delivering on BritBox’s promise to bring viewers “the known, the now, and the new,” Sriraman revealed several new programming initiatives coming to the service including: Sister Boniface, a spin-off of the wildly successful mystery series, Father Brown; a co-production with ITV from Mammoth Screen (Vanity Fair, Endeavor), McDonald and Dodds, about a pair of mismatched police detectives starring Jason Watkins (Hold the Sunset, The Crown); from Mike Bartlett (Press, Trauma) a 3-part psychological thriller, Sticks and Stones, starring Ken Nwosu (Killing Eve); and A Confession, a gripping original drama from Jeff Pope (Stan & Ollie, Philomena) starring Martin Freeman (Sherlock) and Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) about divergent paths to justice for two women when the confession of a violent criminal is ruled inadmissible. Descriptions on all program announcements can be found below.

During the TCA session, Sriraman also led panel discussions on: BritBox’s exclusive return of Vera, the hit UK mystery drama starring two-time Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn (Secrets & Lies; Little Voice) about a driven detective looking for answers along England’s breathtaking Northumberland coast and the aforementioned A Confession.

BritBox also underscored the renewal of several popular series including: season two of critically-acclaimed series, There She Goes starring David Tennant; season two of popular mystery, The Mallorca Files, a BritBox co-commission; season eight of Father Brown, starring Mark Williams as a crime-solving Catholic priest; season nine of tropical light-hearted whodunit, Death in Paradise; and season two of BritBox original, The Bay, starring Morven Christie (Granchester; The A Word). The streamer also recently welcomed the hit series, Wallander, in which a detective is assigned to investigate a series of murders in southern Sweden.

BritBox will continue to spotlight its NOW feature, where viewers find live and near-simulcast programming, with more top-tier specials such as wall-to-wall coverage of Easter From King’s; the RHS Chelsea Flower Show; and the annual regal salute to The Queen’s birthday,  Trooping the Colour, as well as popular favourites including Brexitcast, Pointless and Silent Witness.

“From day one, BritBox has delivered the known, the now and the new authentic British programming experience, whether it’s through groundbreaking originals and specials or proven international favourites,” explains Sriraman. “Day in and day out, viewers are flocking to BritBox for premium UK entertainment they won’t find anywhere else in North America.”

Program Descriptions (By Premiere Date)
WALLANDER – Jan. 1, 2020
Based on the Wallander novels by Henning Mankell, this award-winning series is set in the dramatic and beautiful landscape of southern Sweden.  The show is fronted by its titular character, Kurt Wallander (Kenneth Branagh, Dunkirk, Murder on the Orient Express), a brilliant detective who takes each of his assigned murder cases personally and will stop at nothing in search of the truth, even at the expense of his personal happiness. Also starring Tom Hiddleston.

VERA – Jan. 21, 2020
The longest-running British-born detective series with a female lead is back for its 9th season. Two-time Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn returns as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, whose offbeat manner and appearance belie a knack for catching killers with the aid of her trusted colleagues. Based on the beloved Vera Stanhope Mystery novels, each episode is a stand-alone storyline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

DEATH IN PARADISE (S1-S7) – March 1, 2020; S9 June, 2020*
This award-winning crime series remains one of the UK’s highest-rated dramas, routinely attracting upwards of nine million viewers. In season nine, Detective Inspector Jack Mooney may have settled into life on the glorious Caribbean island of Saint Marie, but a rash of murders keep him busy. Joined by his new Detective Sergeant, the team is handed some of the most confounding crimes they’ve ever seen… from a serial killer on the loose on New Year’s Eve to a stabbing during a survival weekend on a deserted tropical island, their cases are more baffling than ever. Jack’s personal life is upended when an unexpected romantic encounter prompts some serious soul-searching. *S8 currently available on BritBox.

LIVING THE DREAM (S2) – March 17, 2020
Philip Glenister and Lesley Sharp return as Mel and Jen, Brits who relocate to sun-drenched Florida to take ownership of a luckless trailer park — only to be met with hostility from the park’s residents and their new American neighbours. Having agreed to stick it out, they find themselves at odds on how to address the growing crime epidemic taking place in their neighbourhood. Meanwhile, their teenage kids attempt to navigate the minefield that is their new American high school.

THE MALLORCA FILES – March 24, 2020
Set amongst the vibrant international community of the eponymous Spanish island, The Mallorca Files centres around Detective Miranda Blake (Elen Rhys) – an introvert who is used to living by the rules – and her German counterpart, Max Winter (Julian Looman), whose approach to policing is based on gut-instinct and little regard for protocol. Their dynamic – sometimes in sync, but mostly not – sets the playful tone of the series.

FATHER BROWN – April 1, S1-S3; Summer, 2020, S9*
Set in the early 1950’s, the series centres around the local Catholic priest at St. Mary’s, who often finds himself solving some of the biggest crimes in the quaint English village of Kembleford. Assisted in his efforts by a motley, and not always godly, squad of allies, he is thrust further into his role thanks to an inept local detective. Father Brown is a fun, compelling light-hearted period procedural that has certainly earned its stripes with audiences the world over. *S8 currently available on BritBox.

EASTER FROM KING’S – April 11, 2020
Easter from King’s is an annual British tradition in which the world-renowned choir from King’s College performs a special Easter concert broadcast live from the historic and breathtaking King’s College campus.

SCARBOROUGH – April, 2020
From Derren Litten, creator of the smash-hit Benidorm, Scarborough residents Karen and Mike find themselves reunited after five years apart. Now in their late 30s – not “old”, despite what their youthful realtor tells them – it’s time to make a proper go of it. The only trouble is, life in Scarborough is never quiet (sometimes literally when karaoke is on). From an unexpected death at Karen’s job to Mike’s feud with the local ice cream mogul, can this pair survive what Scarborough has in store for them?

A CONFESSION – May, 2020
In 2011, after a night out with friends, 22-year-old Sian O’Callaghan disappeared. As Detective Steve Fulcher (Martin Freeman, Sherlock) begins to piece together her last movements, he ties her disappearance to a local taxi driver, who confesses his involvement in yet another woman’s disappearance years earlier. A BritBox original, A Confession chronicles the paths of two mothers: Elaine Pickford (Siobhan Finneran, Downton Abbey), whose daughter’s disappearance lands her assailant facing years in prison; and another, Karen Edwards (Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake, Harry Potter) who relentlessly pursues justice after her daughter’s killer goes free when his confession is ruled inadmissible in court. Meanwhile, Fulcher finds his career and his marriage on the ropes when he faces expulsion from the force for coercing the confession that leads to the divergent court rulings.

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW – May, 2020
Viewers are transported live to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a dazzling display of the best, boldest and most boundary-pushing garden designs featured at this famously innovative garden showcase and annual English spring tradition.

TROOPING THE COLOUR – June 13, 2020
Considered one of the world’s most esteemed military displays, Trooping the Colour is presented live and features thousands of British troops leading this annual parade in honour of Her Majesty, The Queen, as she celebrates both her 94^th birthday and 67^th year as sovereign.

STICKS AND STONES – Summer, 2020
Mike Bartlett, the brilliant mind behind one of BritBox’s early successes – Trauma – is back with Sticks and Stones, a psychological thriller about workplace bullying starring Ken Nwosu as a successful sales professional and family man whose life begins to unravel during a disastrous sales pitch. Blending a rich combination of dark humour and intense drama, Sticks and Stones shows the desperate lengths one man will go to in order to remain successful and relevant.

MCDONALD AND DODDS – TBA
McDonald and Dodds follows the investigations of a wildly mismatched detective duo in Bath, England. McDonald (Tala Gouveia) brings her tough, no-nonsense big city approach to this idyllic town only to find herself paired with Dodds, (Jason Watkins), her quiet and unassuming new partner who has a knack for solving puzzles. Can this mismatched combo realize that their differences are really their strengths? Find out when McDonald and Dodds, a BritBox co-production with ITV from Mammoth Screens, premieres.

SISTER BONIFACE – TBA
From the award-winning team behind the hit series Father Brown and Shakespeare & Hathaway comes Sister Boniface, a BritBox commissioned series and spin-off of Father Brown. Set in 1960s rural England, this entertaining detective drama follows the investigations of Sister Boniface – nun, wine maker, and part-time forensic scientist. Lorna Watson (Watson & Oliver) reprises her role as Sister Boniface, following the introduction of her character in Father Brown.

POINTLESS – TBA
The only game show where contestants with the fewest points are the winners! It’s like Family Feud but competitors are tasked with finding the lesser-known or pointless answers. The more obvious an answer the more points added to a team’s total.  Four teams of two compete to survive elimination by avoiding the highest score in that round. Last team standing has a chance to win the Pointless Jackpot.

THE BAY (S2)  – TBA
A compelling BritBox original crime drama rooted in the families and communities of a distinctive coastal town.  Season two finds Lisa Armstrong (Morven Christie, Granchester) at a low point; sidelined to perform menial police work as she watches Med’s career reach new highs. There is hope for her, however, as a new case involving a shocking murder propels Lisa back to the front lines, where she must infiltrate a new family and prove her worth to herself and others.

THERE SHE GOES – S2 – TBA
Based on the real-life experiences of writer Shaun Pye, this comedy-drama follows a family whose daughter, Rosie, was born with an extremely rare and undiagnosed chromosomal disorder. Season one focused on the dual timeline of Rosie as a newborn as well at age nine. Season two explores their lives when Rosie is both 3 and 11 years-old.

INSIDE NO. 9 – TBA
Acclaimed writers Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith deliver this sharp-witted comedy anthology through a smart cast, dark humour and unexpected twists.

BritBox is available for $8.99 per month—after an introductory free trial period—on Roku®, Apple TV 4th Gen, Samsung, and all iOS and Android devices, AirPlay, Chromecast, and online at www.britbox.com/ca. BritBox is also available on Amazon Channels for Prime members and on Apple TV Channels on supported devices.

About BritBox

BritBox is a digital video subscription service offering the largest collection of British TV in the U.S. and Canada.  Created by two British content powerhouses—BBC Studios, the subsidiary arm of the BBC, and ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster—the service features iconic favourites, exclusive premieres, and current series and soaps—most available within 24 hours after their UK premiere.  BritBox also offers expert curation and playlists that enable fans to easily find programs they know and discover new favourites via the web, mobile, tablet and connected TVs.  AMC Networks is a minority investor in the service.