UKTV has announced a new 11-part, original commission for its crime themed channel, Alibi.
Co-produced in association with CBC and Shaftesbury – with which UKTV already produce Murdoch Mysteries – Frankie Drake Mysteries stars Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word, The Listener, CSI: Crime, Scene Investigation) as the head of Toronto’s only female private detective agency.
She’s joined by Chantel Riley (Race, The Lion King) as Trudy, her associate at Drake Private Detectives. British actor Laurence Fox (Inspector Lewis) will guest star as Frankie’s confidante Greg Miller.
The team take on the cases the police do not want. In a time of change, their gender is their biggest advantage as they defy expectations and rebel against convention.
The Drake Private Detectives take on cases that explore neighbourhoods from gospel church choirs, the early cinema scene to private parties of the city’s elite.
Frankie and Trudy’s fearless sense of adventure get them into all kinds of trouble, but they always manage to find a way out. They are new detectives for a new world – but is the world ready for them?
Alexandra Finlay, UKTV’s head of acquisitions, said: “We are thrilled to be extending our relationship with Shaftesbury.
“Murdoch Mysteries is one of Alibi’s most-loved series, so we are delighted to be working together again.
“We are so excited to bring the vibrant world of Frankie Drake’s 1920s Toronto to the UK.”
Adrian Wills, general manager of Alibi, added: “This is an excellent new addition to Alibi’s growing slate of exciting new content.
“Frankie Drake Mysteries is a brilliant new detective series that fits perfectly with our premium crime dramas.
“Dynamic characters, action and adventure around every corner, this will definitely appeal to Alibi fans.”
“We are thrilled to embark on this new adventure with UKTV and look forward to continued success together in creating another hit series for fans around the world,” said Shaftesbury’s Chairman and CEO and Frankie Drake Mysteries Executive Producer Christina Jennings.
Frankie Drake Mysteries will air on Alibi in 2018.
