Acorn TV celebrates the new year with premieres of more criminal investigations involving Agatha Raisin, William Murdoch and the Friday Street team.
The fun begins January 7 when Series 3 of “No Offence,” the outrageous British police procedural from Paul Abbott (“Shameless,” “State of Play,” “Cracker”). The female-driven series follows an unorthodox team of cops in Manchester who, in the new season, take on an assassin.
The Canadian period procedural “Murdoch Mysteries” continues its twelfth season January 7 with the premiere of Episode 4. Set in Toronto in the late 1890s and early 1900s, the series centers on Det. William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a methodical and dashing detective who enlists radical new forensic techniques to solve some of the city’s most gruesome murders.
Acorn TV’s first sole commission, the adaptations of MC Beaton’s best-selling Agatha Raisin novels, returns January 28 with “Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate.” Emmy-nominated actress Ashley Jensen plays the title role.
Read the rest of the schedule in the January 2019 Acorn TV calendar below.
January 2019 Acorn TV Calendar
Monday, Jan. 7
No Offence
Series 3, 6 episodes; exclusive U.S. premiere
Series 3 of this outrageous British police procedural sees Viv (Joanna Scanlan, “Requiem,” “The Thick of It”), Dinah (Elaine Cassidy, “Acceptable Risk”), and the Friday Street team face off against their most formidable antagonist yet: The Far Right. The series opens amidst a contentious mayoral election which becomes a flashpoint for deadly violence as an assassin enters the political fray. In the aftermath of the fatal shooting of one of their team, Friday Street must infiltrate the murky world of the Far Right and their wealthy and powerful benefactors to catch the killer.
Lord & Master
feature-length finale of Dutch TV series “Heer & Meester”
This light-hearted Dutch series features the adventures of playboy Valentijn Rixtus Bentinck. Lovingly raised by a priest at a Catholic boarding school, Valentijn received an exemplary education as well as an impressive inheritance. However, while his life is full of excitement, he longs to solve the mystery of his origins. You can watch the first two series on Acorn TV.
Worst Week of My Life
Series 1-3, 17 episodes, 2004-2006
In Series 1 of this BBC One sitcom, getting married should be the best experience of your life but “anything that can go wrong, does” in the final week of arrangements for Howard (Ben Miller, “Death in Paradise”) and Mel (Sarah Alexander, “Jonathan Creek”). Series 2 follows the week leading up to the birth of their first baby. Series 3 involves the week leading up to Christmas.
Murdoch Mysteries
Season 12, episode 4; exclusive U.S. premiere
One of Acorn TV’s most popular series continues its new season. Garnering more than two dozen Gemini nominations and the sole 2016 “Fan’s Choice Award” at the Canadian Screen Awards for Yannick Bisson, “Murdoch Mysteries” has found a huge audience in North America for its period charm, entertaining mysteries, and likeable characters. Set in Toronto in the late 1890s and early 1900s during the age of invention, the mystery series centers on Detective William Murdoch, a methodical and dashing detective, who enlists radical new forensic techniques like fingerprinting, ultraviolet light, and trace evidence to solve some of the city’s most gruesome murders.
Monday, Jan. 14
Murphy’s Law
Series 1, series 5, 2003; streaming exclusive
First season of BBC and BBC America’s hit undercover cop series, starring James Nesbitt (“The Hobbit trilogy,” “Cold Feet”) as an undercover cop driven to the brink of self-destruction. Detective Tommy Murphy is a broken man. Haunted by the murder of his young daughter in Northern Ireland, he flees to London to work undercover for the Metropolitan Police. Murphy battles his demons with drink and dangerous assignments, using his Irish charm and wisecracking wit to blend effortlessly into London’s seedy underworld.
Art Detectives
Series 3, 3 episodes, 2018
Art detective Dr. Bendor Grosvenor and social historian Emma Dabiri delve into Britain’s local museums and country houses to look for lost and hidden public treasures. They set out to uncover the forgotten but fascinating stories behind the paintings, people and our public collections, with some amazing results.
Murdoch Mysteries
Season 12, episode 5; U.S. premiere
Monday, Jan. 21
The Hour
Series 1-2, 12 episodes, 2011-12; streaming exclusive
Set in Cold War-era England, this BBC newsroom drama centers on a journalist, a producer and an anchorman for an investigative news program. The team of The Hour seek the bigger stories and with a looming crisis in Suez, they soon find themselves at the heart of a fierce political struggle between the government and the BBC which will dominate their decisions and test their resolve. The Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-nominated series stars Ben Whishaw (“A Very English Scandal,” “London Spy”), Dominic West (“The Affair,” “The Wire”), and Romola Garai (“Emma,” “The Crimson Petal and the White”).
The Rebel
Series 1, 9 episodes, 2016
Simon Callow (“Outlander,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Shakespeare in Love”) stars as rebellious pensioner Henry Palmer in this 2016 comedy series adapted from the comic strip of the same name appearing in “The Oldie” magazine. Bill Paterson (“Outlander,” “Traffik”) co-stars.
Murdoch Mysteries
Season 12, episodes 6; U.S. premiere
Monday, Jan. 28
Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate
feature-length movie; exclusive world premiere
Ashley Jensen (“Catastrophe,” “Extras,” “Ugly Betty”) plays London PR whizz-turned-amateur sleuth Agatha Raisin, who becomes entangled in mischief, mayhem and murder when she opts for early retirement in the country. In “The Curious Curate,” there’s attendance at Sunday service booms when a dishy new church curate comes to town — much to Sarah’s chagrin. But all is not angelic in sweet, happy Carsely as murder rips through the heart of the village. Will all of Agatha’s friends be safe and could one of them be driven to murder?
Discovering Britain
6 episodes, 2016
A celebration of Britain’s outdoors — its history, culture and tradition — that also explores our love affair with the nation’s past. Maureen Lipman and Larry Lamb get to the heart of what makes British heritage great, while unearthing possible threats to its longevity. They are joined by Michael Buerk, who returns to beautiful parts of the country he knew as a young reporter more than 40 years ago. Guests Emilia Fox, Don Warrington, Wendy Craig, Peter Davison, Mica Paris and Bill Paterson help build a picture of “Britishness.”
Murphy’s Law
Series 2, 6 episodes, 2004; streaming exclusive
Murdoch Mysteries
Season 12, episodes 7; U.S. premiere