First glimpse of Anthony Horowitz’s ‘Magpie Murders’ headed to PBS Masterpiece


Lesley Manville as Suan Ryeland in Magpie Murders. Photo courtesy: PBS and Britbox. Photographer: Bernard Walsh.

At long last, fans of quality British mysteries and dramas are beginning to see the light at the end of the COVID pandemic production shutdown tunnel beginning with the return of Call the Midwife and Grantchester this Sunday on PBS. If that’s not enough to program ‘do not disturb’ on your smartphone, a short two weeks later (17 October) will see the return of Baptiste on Masterpiece.

While this may satisfy our collective Sunday night appetite for the best in British drama for the remainder of 2021, 2022 will be the icing on the proverbial British drama cake beginning with the return of All Creatures Great and Small in January. Later in the year, it’s the return of Sanditon, another new series of Call the Midwife and several new series coming our way. One such series headed our way in 2022 that we have talked about extensively is the television adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s Magpie Murders.

Matthew Beard, Tim McMullan, Director Peter Cattaneo and Lesley Manville in Magpie Murders. Photo courtesy: PBS and Britbox. Photographer: Nick Wall.

Sporting an all-star cast headed by Lesley Manville (Mum, Phantom Thread, World on Fire, The Crown, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) as Susan Ryeland, an editor who is given an unfinished manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest mystery novel, Magpie Murders also stars Tim McMullan (The Crown, Brexit, Patrick Melrose, Foyle’s War) replacing Timothy Spall as the clever and complex detective Atticus Pünd.

Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan in Magpie Murders. Photo courtesy: PBS and Britbox. Photographer: Nick Wall

Rounding out the cast are Daniel Mays (Ashes to Ashes, Line of Duty, 1917, Des) as Inspector Raymond Chubb, Pippa Haywood (BodyguardGreen WingBridgerton); Michael Maloney (The CrownThe Trial Of Christine Keeler); and double Olivier Award winning actor Conleth Hill (Game Of Thrones) appearing as Alan Conway, author of the fictitious Atticus Pünd novels.

Daniel Mays as Inspector Chubb in Magpie Murders. Photo courtesy: PBS and Britbox. Photographer: Nick Wall

Having just wrapped production in London, Suffolk and Ireland, the 6-part Magpie Murders is headed to PBS Masterpiece in 2022. 


In: Mystery

  • tunasalad44

    I can’t wait for this show. I absolutely loved Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders. And casting Lesley Manville as the lead is perfect.