Bookish is a British crime drama television series created by and starring Mark Gatiss. It was renewed for a second series prior to the broadcast of the first series. A Christmas two-part special is due to air in December 2026, and a third series has been commissioned.
Synopsis An unconventional book shop owner, Gabriel Book, helps police solve crimes in 1946 London. It also follows the story of Gabriel's marriage to Trottie; a lavender marriage. Book’s interest in Jack, a recently released petty criminal whom he hires to work in the bookshop, is another thread through the first season.
Cast
Main cast Mark Gatiss as Gabriel Book Polly Walker as Trottie Book Elliot Levey as Inspector Bliss Connor Finch as Jack Buket Kömür as Nora Blake Harrison as Sergeant Morris
Recurring cast Rosie Cavaliero as Mrs. Dredge Gerard Horan as Baseheart Nadia Albina as Dr. Calder Jonas Nay as Felix Tim McInnerny as D (series 1) Simon Callow as E (series 2) Rupert Graves as Colonel Reggie Winters (series 2)
Guest cast
Daniel Mays as Eric Wellbeloved Ella Bruccoleri as Merula Harkup Tom Forbes as Mickey Hall
Joely Richardson as Sandra Dare Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Stewart Howard Amanda Drew as Nerina Bean Luke Norris as Jesse Mackendrick Michael Workéyè as Billy
Paul McGann as Mr. Kind Angeliki Papoulia as Princess Ruhije Rina Krasniqi as Princess Nafije Mark Umbers as Victor Orr Elizabeth Berrington as Sylvia Orr
Jason Watkins as Harold Sneed Saffron Coomber as Ayesha Sorcha Groundsell as Geraldine Mercer Sid Sagar as Professor Chopra Youssef Kerkour as Yusuf
Allan Corduner as Maxie Kleinmann Liza Sadovy as Ruth Kleinmann Oli Fyne as Hannah Krasinski Claire Skinner as Mrs. Calthrop Ruth Codd as India Flynn
Michael Simkins as Luther Von Bode Miranda Richardson as Duchess Alberta Naoko Mori as Madam Yamauchi Ingrid Oliver as Liesl Pohl
Series overview
Episodes Series 1 (2025)
Series 2 (2026)
Christmas Special (2026)
Production The six-part first series is produced by Eagle Eye Drama and is produced in association with Belgium-based Happy Duck Films. Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino are executive producers and the series is co-written by Mark Gatiss and Matthew Sweet. Carolina Giammetta is the director and Christopher Arcache is the producer.
The cast is led by Gatiss, with Polly Walker, Elliott Levey, Connor Finch and Buket Kömür. The cast also includes Blake Harrison, Rosie Cavaliero, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Tom Forbes, Joely Richardson, Daniel Mays, Amanda Drew, and Luke Norris.
Filming got underway in Belgium in April 2024. It was renewed for a second series prior to the broadcast of the first series. Special guest stars confirmed for the second series include Ruth Codd, Jason Watkins, Miranda Richardson, Simon Callow, Rupert Graves, Claire Skinner and Youssef Kerkour.
Gatiss revealed on Instagram that filming has officially wrapped on Season 2, which will have six episodes. It airs in the U.K. on 26 August 2026.
Broadcast The series was broadcast on 16 July 2025 on U&Alibi in the UK, and HBO Max in Australia.
References
External links