New York – September 12, 2016 – In the lead up to Halloween, BBC AMERICA premieres the chilling limited series, The Living and the Dead, on October 27. From Ashley Pharaoh (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes), the six-parter stars Colin Morgan (Humans, The Fall, Merlin) and Charlotte Spencer (Glue, Line of Duty) as Nathan and Charlotte Appleby, a couple hell-bent on bringing modern ideas to an ancient rural community. When Nathan, a pioneering Victorian psychologist, brings his vivacious young wife back to live on his family’s estate, he’s confronted by one disturbing case after another. Are these strange events linked merely by coincidence, or is there something more sinister – more supernatural – going on in the village? The Halloween week binge-a-thon of The Living and the Dead begins Thursday, October 27 at 9/8c on BBC AMERICA and the entire limited series will be available the following day to stream on the BBC AMERICA App and BBCAmerica.com.
Sarah Barnett, President of BBC AMERICA, whispered ominously… “’The Living and the Dead’ is a frisky Halloween brew of gothic Victoriana, an isolated village, a sick young woman and an earnest young protagonist who believed rational thought will save the day… a perfectly eerie Halloweenathon for BBCA fans.”
The arrival of the railways, the unrelenting pace of industrialization, and the impact of groundbreaking science and philosophy are changing forever the ancient ways of rural England. Nathan and Charlotte are part of this movement of change. But when the death of Nathan’s mother brings them back to his family’s estate, they must turn the farm’s fortunes around – or risk ruin and the devastation of the local community. Though the farm and its future demand their attention, when a vulnerable teenage girl is brought to Nathan, seemingly possessed by a terrifying spirit, he cannot leave her to suffer.
A pioneering doctor, Nathan has worked at the forefront of the emerging science of psychology and is an expert in mapping the dark places of the mind. He believes there is always a rational or scientific explanation to be found for life’s mysteries; though Harriet’s case is disturbing, he must use every psychological technique he has to find a way to cure her, to free her from this terrible burden.
But what if Nathan is wrong, and it isn’t an illness of the mind? Could Harriet actually be haunted?
The Living and the Dead is a BBC Wales Drama production in association with Monastic Productions and co-produced with BBC AMERICA.
Note to Editors:
All six parts of The Living and the Dead are now available on BBC AMERICA’s Screening Room.
For images and additional information, please visit the BBC AMERICA Press Room.
CREDITS
Nathan Appleby Colin Morgan (Humans, The Fall, Merlin)
Charlotte Appleby Charlotte Spencer (Glue, Line of Duty)
Creator/Writer/ Ashley Pharoah (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes)
Executive Producer
Director (Episodes 1, 2 & 3) Alice Throughton (Merlin, Atlantis)
Director (Episodes 4, 5 & 6) Samuel Donovan (Humans)
Executive Producer Matthew Graham (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes)
Executive Producer Faith Penhale (War & Peace, The Game)
Executive Producer Katie McAleese (Ripper Street, In the Flesh)
Producer Eliza Mellor (Poldark)
SYNOPSES
PART ONE
Somerset 1894. When the death of his mother brings pioneering psychologist Nathan Appleby and his vivacious young wife Charlotte back to the family estate, they must turn the farm’s fortunes around or risk ruin, and the devastation of the local community. Though the farm and its future demand their attention, when a vulnerable teenage girl is brought to Nathan, seemingly possessed by a terrifying spirit, he cannot leave her to suffer. Is it an illness of the mind or could she actually be haunted?
PART TWO
When a young boy is disturbed by terrifying visions, Nathan Appleby finds himself drawn into another case. The boy’s nightmarish hallucinations lead him into increasingly dangerous situations and Nathan must find a way to help him. However, Nathan’s belief in scientific and rational explanations is rocked by a growing sense of unease, as he starts to experience some mysterious visions of his own. Are all these strange events linked merely by coincidence, or is there something deeply wrong in the village of Shepzoy?
PART THREE
It’s harvest time and Charlotte Appleby needs everyone to pull together to get the harvest in – the farm’s future rests on the flowing fields of wheat. Yet when a series of freak occurrences threaten the crop, Peter, a disturbed young villager is blamed, and Nathan Appleby must step in.
PART FOUR
Recent events have made Nathan Appleby doubt everything he once believed, but he’s convinced he can get to the bottom of the mysteries. However, his growing fascination with spirits is driving him away from his wife Charlotte. And while Charlotte is holding everything else together on the farm, she is also guarding a secret of her own.
PART FIVE
Nathan Appleby’s increasing obsession with the spirits haunting the village of Shepzoy is taking its toll on his wife Charlotte and the farm. Will he risk his relationship to pursue the truth? No one believes what he’s seen and heard, and even Nathan is left wondering if it’s all just been in his head.
PART SIX
The village of Shepzoy is a changed place after the horrifying events of recent weeks. Nathan Appleby’s desperate attempts to solve the mysteries have left him on the edge of madness, and his wife Charlotte is struggling to hold their marriage and the farm together. The harder she tries to save Nathan, the further he pushes her away – can Charlotte find a way to help him before it’s too late?
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Created in 1998, BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming like the ground-breaking un-scripted series Top Gear, the top-rated science-fiction phenomenon Doctor Who, and the fan-favorite Orphan Black. The influential network has been the launch pad for talent including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, and Graham Norton — all adopted as American pop culture icons. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC) and AMC Networks, BBCA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Available on cable and satellite TV, BBC America broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, is available On Demand across all major digital platforms and offers full episodes online at bbcamerica.com. Find out more by visiting press.bbcamerica.com or follow us on twitter.com/bbcamerica.