Paul McGann Joins Alibi's 'Bookish' As US Distribution Deal Nears

Bookish may be one of the most PBS-coded shows to come out of the U.K. The series, which stars PBS fan-favorites Mark Gatiss (Moonflower Murders) and Polly Walker (Bridgerton), focuses on a gay bookshop owner in post-war London who uses his love of reading (and his easy access to a wide variety of research information) to solve mysteries. As an entry in the ever-increasing number of "Helping the police solve murders is my hobby" shows, it's got all the hallmarks of a cozy crime series, with a plot that promises to introduce viewers to great works with an eye on filling your To-Be-Read pile. It's got all the educational cred public broadcasting would want. Now, the show's guest stars for its inaugural season have been announced, and they, too, skew heavily towards British talent who PBS fans know and love.

The series has been filming in Belgium over the spring of 2024, with the bulk of the cast announced as it commenced. But with a few weeks left in the production schedule, Alibi has a few last-minute additions who will be guest starring. The headliner is Former Eighth Doctor Paul McGann (Annika) who also happens to be regularly voted by certain TV critics as Hottest McGann. (Sorry, not sorry to Paul's older brother Stephen McGann over on Call The Midwife.) But that's not all. Mark Umbers, who currently stars in Hotel Portofino as Italy's Handsomest Jerkface, will also join in the fun.

Further guest stars include Elizabeth Berrington (Good Omens), Tim McInnerny (The Serpent), and Angeliki Papoulia (The Tunnel). All five actors will only be in one or two episodes each, as the six-episode Bookish will have three two-parter stories.