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All3Media International uncovers global deals for the ground-breaking detective drama from Company Pictures
“Clarke’s charisma makes Ellis an engaging hero. She’s not a savant, just very good at her job. But extreme competence can be thrilling to watch.” – The New York Times
“Clarke is a titan” – The Hollywood Reporter
NEW YORK – May 13, 2025 – Following a critically raved first series, Acorn TV and 5 today announce the recommission of ground-breaking detective drama, Inspector Ellis, starring three-time Olivier Award winner Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower.
From Company Pictures, in association with All3Media International and Northern Ireland Screen, Season 1 of Inspector Ellis quickly became a beloved fan favorite for the Acorn TV audience with Clarke (Showtrial, Lost Boys & Fairies, Rocketman) receiving praise for her portrayal of DCI Ellis – a detective fighting a system rife with flaws.
Season 2 (3×120’) will once again follow the tenacious DCI alongside her right-hand man, DS Harper, played by Andrew Gower (The Winter King, Carnival Row, Outlander), both of whom are parachuted into failing investigations across the north of England.
On entering the world of Inspector Ellis again for Season 2, Sharon D Clarke says: “I am thrilled to return as DCI Ellis. The response to the first series was overwhelming, and I am excited to continue this journey with such a talented team, especially with the wonderful Andrew Gower by my side. Ellis is a character who resonates deeply, and I can’t wait for audiences to see what we have in store for her and Harper in series two.”
Acorn Media Enterprises (Acorn TV), shares: “Inspector Ellis was an instant fan-favourite for the Acorn TV audience and met with rave reviews from top critics for its elevated and smart storytelling brought to life by the incomparable Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower. We could not be more excited to dive in on a second season of unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat cases with this dynamic pair.”
On bringing the hit series back to 5 screens, Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Scripted, 5 comments: “Following the huge success of the first series of Ellis, we are thrilled for it to return with the brilliant Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower reprising their roles. We can’t wait to bring the detective duo back to the 5 audience next year”.
Michele Buck, CEO, Company Pictures (an All3Media company), adds: “I’m thrilled Ellis has been a success for 5 and Acorn TV and so happy to return for a second series, creating new and engrossing stories for fans and new audiences to watch.”
David Swetman, SVP Content and Commercial Strategy at All3Media International commented: “We’re delighted to reveal the first round of premium global partners bringing Company Pictures’ Ellis to an international audience. With a second season now commissioned, it’s fantastic to bring our clients and their audiences a new slate of compelling mysteries led by the enigmatic and brilliant DCI Ellis — a standout new addition to our distinct and celebrated detective lineup brought to life by an exceptional performance from Sharon D Clarke.”
All3Media International, co-producer and global partner on Inspector Ellis, has revealed that four continents have acquired the first season of Inspector Ellis, with partners in Europe, Australia and Asia joining Acorn TV in North America, Australia and New Zealand and 5 in the UK. In Europe, the series will air on Germany and German speaking territories on ZDF, Flemish Belgium on VRT, Sweden on SVT and the Netherlands on NPO, whilst BBC Studios has licensed the series in the Balkans and Central Eastern Europe. Throughout the rest of the world Inspector Ellis Season 1 will air in Australia on Nine Network, in a second window deal after Acorn TV’s premiere in the region, in addition to the show launching this month on Mystery Channel in Japan.
Inspector Ellis is created by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre with Paul Logue, the second season will be written by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre (Ep1), Oliver Frampton (Ep2), and Maria Ward (Ep3). Catherine Mackin, Managing Director of Acorn Media Enterprises (AME), commissioned the series for Acorn TV and executive produces alongside Bea Tammer, AME’s Director of Development. The second season of was ordered for 5 by Sebastian Cardwell, Head of Drama, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Paramount UK and Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Scripted, 5. Both also serve as executive producers alonside Michele Buck and Lucy Raffety for Company Pictures, with producers Martin Mahon and Ana Ture.
Inspector Ellis Season 2 will begin filming this month in the UK and will air on Acorn TV and 5 in 2026.
About Acorn TV
AMC Networks’ Acorn TV is North America’s largest streaming service specializing in premium British and international television. Acorn TV adds exclusive programming every week to a deep library of revered mysteries, dramas, and comedies – all commercial-free. Acorn TV’s recent slate is comprised of critically acclaimed commissioned and original series including popular New Zealand detective series My Life Is Murder (Lucy Lawless), acclaimed Irish crime thriller Bloodlands (James Nesbitt, co-executive produced by Jed Mercurio), British crime drama Whitstable Pearl (Kerry Godliman), Kiwi romantic comedy Under the Vines and British detective drama Dalgliesh (Bertie Carvel), to name a few. Current and upcoming Acorn TV Original Series include UK detective drama Harry Wild (Jane Seymour), Signora Volpe (Emilia Fox), The Chelsea Detective (Adrian Scarborough) and many more. The above add to a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas including Jack Irish (Guy Pearce), Doc Martin (Martin Clunes), Deadwater Fell (David Tennant, Cush Jumbo), all 24 seasons of fan-favorite Midsomer Murders and highly-rated drama The Nest, among others.
“… glorious streaming service… an essential must-have” – The Hollywood Reporter
“Netflix for the Anglophile” – NPR
Acorn TV is available for $8.99/month or $89.99/year. Facebook: OfficialAcornTV – Twitter: @AcornTV – Instagram: @Acorn_tv
About 5
5 is the home of award-winning content from the UK’s third largest commercial PSB, a culmination of the creative transformation of Channel 5 over more than a decade. 5 is part of the Paramount Global family of brands.
Through a mix of live TV channels and bingeable boxsets, the free-to-air service allows UK audiences to watch or stream the breadth of programming from Channel 5 – including Milkshake!, its dedicated preschool brand – and a wide selection from the wider Paramount family of brands, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount+ and more.
In keeping with its PSB remit, 5 tells the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the UK, featuring well-known faces and fresh new talent. Its programme roster spans original UK drama, premium factual, true crime, science, news & current affairs and kids’ content, which continue to attract critical acclaim.
Recent wins include BAFTA Television and RTS Awards for the documentary White Nanny, Black Child in 2024, along with a BAFTA nomination for Endurance Race to the Pole. Factual hit The Yorkshire Vet and the broadcaster’s series on air fryers also won RTS Yorkshire awards, while Michael Palin received the Radio Times Special Judges Award for his Channel 5 documentaries.
About Company Pictures
Founded in 1998, All3Media owned Company Pictures has produced hundreds of hours of critically acclaimed, award-winning drama for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, WGBH, HBO, Starz and other leading broadcasters all over the world. It was the producer of triple Golden Globe award winning period drama Elizabeth starring Helen Mirren.
Company Pictures’ credits include the Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall for the BBC starring Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis, and seminal BBC dramas The Lakes, The Village, Inspector George Gently and The White Queen. Their multi award-winning drama Shameless ran for eleven series and their hugely popular teen drama Skins enjoyed a six-year run, both for Channel 4. Their much-loved long running family series Wild at Heart ran for seven years on ITV.
Company Pictures continues to produce high quality, distinguished drama that attracts the best talent and global audiences including The White Princess for Starz, Series 1 of The Missing for BBC1 and Agatha Raisin for Acorn. A re-imagined version of British detective drama Van Der Valk which is set and filmed in Amsterdam and starring Marc Warren, is currently filming Series 4, and further productions are commissioned for next year
About All3Media International
All3Media International distributes popular, award-winning TV programmes to over 1,000 broadcasters and media platforms around the world. The company has been celebrated for producing, marketing and distributing high-quality, ground-breaking and pioneering shows to a global audience, consistently topping the Broadcast and Televisual annual Indies Surveys and receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its growth – twice. Its catalogue contains over 30,000 hours of content across all genres.
As well as Britain’s top-selling drama series MIDSOMER MURDERS, All3Media International’s quality scripted content includes FLEABAG, ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, IT’S A SIN, TRIGGER POINT, THE TOURIST, MYSTERY ROAD, VAN DER VALK and THE ENGLISH. Its non-scripted content slate includes premium factual documentaries such as WHO IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL? and FEVER PITCH: THE RISE OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE as well as various factual entertainment titles including ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU, GREAT BRITISH MENU and FOUR IN A BED. The company also represents brands featuring some of television’s most beloved names including Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Gordon Ramsay, Mary Beard and Grayson Perry. All3Media International’s celebrated formats include THE TRAITORS, GOGGLEBOX, UNDERCOVER BOSS, THIS IS YOUR LIFE, LINGO, THE DOG HOUSE and RACE ACROSS THE WORLD, and it also represents an extensive list of successful scripted formats including LIAR, BLOOD, CHEAT and QUEER AS FOLK.
About Northern Ireland Screen
Northern Ireland Screen is the national screen agency for Northern Ireland. It is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all its activities and projects. The organization supports the development of a dynamic and sustainable screen industry and provides opportunities for all communities to engage with and benefit from screen culture. For more information, please visit northernirelandscreen.co.uk.