Series Synopsis
ITV has commissioned 10 part supernatural crime drama, Houdini & Doyle, from Big Talk Productions and Shaftesbury. Stephen Mangan and Michael Weston headline the cast.
This bold and thrilling new crime drama series is Executive Produced by House creator David Shore, and written and created by his long-time collaborator David Hoselton, and leading Canadian screenwriter David Titcher.
A UK/Canada treaty co-production, the drama is produced by leading independent producers Big Talk Productions (UK) and Shaftesbury (Canada) in association with David Shore’s production company, Shore Z. Sony Pictures Television will handle International distribution of the series which will air on Global in Canada and will be broadcast exclusively in the US on FOX.
Stephen Mangan (Episodes) plays Sir Arthur Conan Doyle alongside Michael Weston (Six Feet Under, House) as Harry Houdini, two of the most fascinating and iconic characters of the early t0th century: real-life friends, real-life adversaries, real-life crime solvers.
Harry Houdini: master magician, escape artist, born penniless and now the highest paid performer in the world and he wants everyone to know it. He refuses to believe in the paranormal. As a professional magician and master of illusion he knows there’s nothing supernatural about magic. To him, everything unexplained is a trick, a gimmick, or a fraud.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the creator of the greatest detective of all time - Sherlock Holmes - but is also a passionate believer in the paranormal. Because, having lost someone very close to him, he desperately wants to find a way of communicating with them.
This fundamental difference between the two men leads to conflict... and humour... and competition. High-minded competition in the pursuit of the truth and ridiculous petty competition because they’re... guys. But despite all this, they need each other. Doyle needs Houdini because he is gullible. Houdini needs Doyle because he is wrong.
Houdini & Doyle draws heavily on the rich history of the period. At the turn of the 20th century the Metropolitan Police, mired in the ways of the 19th century, were overwhelmed with bizarre and often inexplicable cases so they turned to outsiders including, believe it or not, Houdini and Doyle, who collaborated with New Scotland Yard on some unsolved and inexplicable crimes.
What can we believe? What should we believe? Is cynicism to be admired or is it what makes us human? Is reason the antithesis of hope?
Joining the international cast of new and established talent are exciting new Canadian actress Rebecca Liddiard as Constable Adelaide Stratton, whose character in the series is the first female PC ever to work for the London Metropolitan Police Force, Tim McInnerny as Inspector Horace Merring, fast rising star Adam Nagaitis as Sergeant George Gudgett.
Multi award winning Stephen Hopkins ( 24, Californication) is the lead director and Adrian Sturges (The Enfield Haunting) produces the series. Executive Producers are David Shore, David Hoselton, David Titcher for Shore Z, Kenton Allen, Luke Alkin and Matthew Justice for Big Talk Productions and Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie and Maggie Murphy for Shaftesbury.
Houdini & Doyle was ordered by Controller of ITV Encore, Angela Jain and commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.
This bold and thrilling new crime drama series is Executive Produced by House creator David Shore, and written and created by his long-time collaborator David Hoselton, and leading Canadian screenwriter David Titcher.
A UK/Canada treaty co-production, the drama is produced by leading independent producers Big Talk Productions (UK) and Shaftesbury (Canada) in association with David Shore’s production company, Shore Z. Sony Pictures Television will handle International distribution of the series which will air on Global in Canada and will be broadcast exclusively in the US on FOX.
Stephen Mangan (Episodes) plays Sir Arthur Conan Doyle alongside Michael Weston (Six Feet Under, House) as Harry Houdini, two of the most fascinating and iconic characters of the early t0th century: real-life friends, real-life adversaries, real-life crime solvers.
Harry Houdini: master magician, escape artist, born penniless and now the highest paid performer in the world and he wants everyone to know it. He refuses to believe in the paranormal. As a professional magician and master of illusion he knows there’s nothing supernatural about magic. To him, everything unexplained is a trick, a gimmick, or a fraud.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the creator of the greatest detective of all time - Sherlock Holmes - but is also a passionate believer in the paranormal. Because, having lost someone very close to him, he desperately wants to find a way of communicating with them.
This fundamental difference between the two men leads to conflict... and humour... and competition. High-minded competition in the pursuit of the truth and ridiculous petty competition because they’re... guys. But despite all this, they need each other. Doyle needs Houdini because he is gullible. Houdini needs Doyle because he is wrong.
Houdini & Doyle draws heavily on the rich history of the period. At the turn of the 20th century the Metropolitan Police, mired in the ways of the 19th century, were overwhelmed with bizarre and often inexplicable cases so they turned to outsiders including, believe it or not, Houdini and Doyle, who collaborated with New Scotland Yard on some unsolved and inexplicable crimes.
What can we believe? What should we believe? Is cynicism to be admired or is it what makes us human? Is reason the antithesis of hope?
Joining the international cast of new and established talent are exciting new Canadian actress Rebecca Liddiard as Constable Adelaide Stratton, whose character in the series is the first female PC ever to work for the London Metropolitan Police Force, Tim McInnerny as Inspector Horace Merring, fast rising star Adam Nagaitis as Sergeant George Gudgett.
Multi award winning Stephen Hopkins ( 24, Californication) is the lead director and Adrian Sturges (The Enfield Haunting) produces the series. Executive Producers are David Shore, David Hoselton, David Titcher for Shore Z, Kenton Allen, Luke Alkin and Matthew Justice for Big Talk Productions and Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie and Maggie Murphy for Shaftesbury.
Houdini & Doyle was ordered by Controller of ITV Encore, Angela Jain and commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.
Source:
Episode Synopsis
Episode 1: The Maggie’s Redress
Houdini, Doyle and Adelaide investigate the murder of a nun in one of the notorious Magdalene Laundries. A witness claims the killer is a young woman who was tormented by the nun. The only problem is, that young woman has been dead for six months.
Episode 2: A Dish of Adharma
A 12 year old boy shoots a prominent suffragette, claiming he’s avenging a murder - his own murder in a past life. And if the trio wants to find the truth, they must solve the decades-old killing.
Episode 3: In Manus Dei
When a heckler is mysteriously struck down at a faith healer’s show, the team investigates whether the healer is truly channeling the power of God. And if so, can he work a miracle on Doyle’s dying wife?
Episode 4: Spring-Heel’d Jack
In the first of several attacks, a businessman is murdered by a mysterious phantom with demonic eyes and gravity-defying leaps. As panic spreads across London, the trio tries to determine if this is a case of mass hysteria, or is there a beast out there that thrives on fear?
Episode 5: The Curse of Korzha
An attractive traveling medium uses her psychic gifts to solve crimes, frustrating Houdini when he can’t figure out her tricks. Doyle feels she may be the real thing, so he is mortified by her next prediction: the end of Adelaide Stratton.
Episode 6: The Monsters of Nethermoor
After a nightmarish encounter with otherworldly beings, a man wakes up in a field claiming his wife has been abducted by aliens. The team investigates but it’s only when Doyle has his own encounter that they learn the horrifying truth of what’s really out there.
Episode 7: Bedlam
When several people are found literally scared to death, the clues lead the team to Bedlam, the notorious insane asylum, with which Doyle has a disturbing history. And when he starts to lose his grip on reality, he doesn’t know if he’s losing his mind or is becoming the next victim.
Episode 8: Strigoi
Bram Stoker, author of Dracula and good friend of Doyle’s, shows up at Doyle’s house in a panic. Vampire hunters are trying to kill him, believing Stoker to be a vampire. As they investigate a disturbing murder, they begin to wonder if Stoker really is a vampire, and if not, what is the dark secret he’s desperately trying to hide from the world?
Episode 9: Necromanteion
The trio travels to Canada to investigate a homicidal poltergeist, where they are joined by other paranormal experts, including Thomas Edison, who unveils his latest invention - the Necrophone - a device that can purportedly communicate with the dead.
Episode 10: The Pall of LaPier
Small-town Ontario. A minister wakes to find everyone in his village dead, without the slightest sign of violence. Was this retribution for past acts of evil, as the local natives believe? And if not, how else to explain why the man of God was the only one spared?
Houdini, Doyle and Adelaide investigate the murder of a nun in one of the notorious Magdalene Laundries. A witness claims the killer is a young woman who was tormented by the nun. The only problem is, that young woman has been dead for six months.
Episode 2: A Dish of Adharma
A 12 year old boy shoots a prominent suffragette, claiming he’s avenging a murder - his own murder in a past life. And if the trio wants to find the truth, they must solve the decades-old killing.
Episode 3: In Manus Dei
When a heckler is mysteriously struck down at a faith healer’s show, the team investigates whether the healer is truly channeling the power of God. And if so, can he work a miracle on Doyle’s dying wife?
Episode 4: Spring-Heel’d Jack
In the first of several attacks, a businessman is murdered by a mysterious phantom with demonic eyes and gravity-defying leaps. As panic spreads across London, the trio tries to determine if this is a case of mass hysteria, or is there a beast out there that thrives on fear?
Episode 5: The Curse of Korzha
An attractive traveling medium uses her psychic gifts to solve crimes, frustrating Houdini when he can’t figure out her tricks. Doyle feels she may be the real thing, so he is mortified by her next prediction: the end of Adelaide Stratton.
Episode 6: The Monsters of Nethermoor
After a nightmarish encounter with otherworldly beings, a man wakes up in a field claiming his wife has been abducted by aliens. The team investigates but it’s only when Doyle has his own encounter that they learn the horrifying truth of what’s really out there.
Episode 7: Bedlam
When several people are found literally scared to death, the clues lead the team to Bedlam, the notorious insane asylum, with which Doyle has a disturbing history. And when he starts to lose his grip on reality, he doesn’t know if he’s losing his mind or is becoming the next victim.
Episode 8: Strigoi
Bram Stoker, author of Dracula and good friend of Doyle’s, shows up at Doyle’s house in a panic. Vampire hunters are trying to kill him, believing Stoker to be a vampire. As they investigate a disturbing murder, they begin to wonder if Stoker really is a vampire, and if not, what is the dark secret he’s desperately trying to hide from the world?
Episode 9: Necromanteion
The trio travels to Canada to investigate a homicidal poltergeist, where they are joined by other paranormal experts, including Thomas Edison, who unveils his latest invention - the Necrophone - a device that can purportedly communicate with the dead.
Episode 10: The Pall of LaPier
Small-town Ontario. A minister wakes to find everyone in his village dead, without the slightest sign of violence. Was this retribution for past acts of evil, as the local natives believe? And if not, how else to explain why the man of God was the only one spared?
Source:
Episode 1.01 Promotional Photos
ITV Promo - Starts This Sunday on ITV Encore
