The BBC has unveiled the first-look trailer for its highly anticipated new family drama series, Crookhaven, which has been described as essential viewing for all ages. This eight-part adaptation of JJ Arcanjo's novels offers viewers an initial glimpse of its star-studded cast and the intriguing premise of a school for talented young thieves.
Crookhaven: A School for Misfits
Crookhaven follows eight international students as they compete for the coveted Crooked Cup while confronting a mysterious adversary known as The Nameless. The trailer introduces Lucas Leach in the lead role of Gabriel, with Carmel Laniado from The Witcher portraying his rival, Penelope, the headmaster's daughter.
Vigil actor Dougray Scott takes on the role of Caspian Lockett, the school's figurehead, who addresses the new recruits in the preview. He tells them, 'If you've always felt like a misfit, a troublemaker, an outsider, you should fit in perfectly.' Lockett explains that the students have been selected from thousands of young crooks worldwide to learn how to channel their dubious talents for good, promising that Crookhaven will change their lives.
An Impressive Ensemble Cast
The series boasts a remarkable supporting cast, including Trainspotting star Keith Allen, Coronation Street's Julie Hesmondhalgh, and Industry actress Claire Forlani. Younger cast members feature Amari Bacchus from Adolescence, Leila Khan of Heartstopper fame, and Charlie Mann from Lazarus.
Additional notable appearances include Death In Paradise's Genesis Lynea, Slow Horses' Naomi Wirthner, Doctor Who star Arthur Darvill, and former BBC journalist Emily Maitlis in a voice role. A BBC representative expressed pride in this homegrown production, highlighting its gripping mystery and standout cast as elements designed to captivate audiences of all generations.
Three New BBC Dramas in Production
Alongside the Crookhaven announcement, the BBC revealed that three new drama series are currently in development and scheduled to begin filming across the United Kingdom this spring. This signals a busy year ahead for BBC viewers seeking fresh, compelling content.
D-Notice: A Political Thriller
From the writers of acclaimed policing drama Blue Lights comes D-Notice, a six-part thriller delving into the world of investigative journalism and politics. Writers Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn, both former investigative journalists who met while working on BBC's Panorama, explore themes of truth and power in this project.
The series takes its name from the official requests used across the UK to advise journalists against publishing information for national security reasons, hinting at the drama's focus on sensitive governmental matters. This marks the third BBC collaboration for Patterson and Lawn following The Salisbury Poisonings and Blue Lights.
Shy & Lola: A Dark Coastal Comedy
Another six-part drama, Shy & Lola, is being produced by BAFTA and Emmy-winning Clerkenwell Films, known for hits like Baby Reindeer. Written by Amanda Coe of Apple Tree Yard, this dark comedy follows two women who become unlikely allies after a murder entangles them in the criminal underworld of a small northern coastal town.
Starring Hayley Squires from The Night Manager as Shy and Bel Powley of The Diary of a Teenage Girl as Lola, the series explores their surprising talent for crime as they build an operation threatening local criminals. Filming is set to commence in Hull and Leeds this spring, with Coe describing the project as a dream show full of fun, action, and emotion.
1536: A Tudor Period Drama
The third announcement is 1536, an eight-episode Tudor period drama based on Ava Pickett's play of the same name. Written by Pickett, who also contributed to How To Get To Heaven from Belfast and The Great, the series is set in rural Essex during Anne Boleyn's arrest.
The story weaves royal scandal with rural struggle, focusing on three young women—Anna, Mariella, and Jane—whose lives are unexpectedly transformed by the king's actions. The BBC describes it as a darkly comic and relevant exploration of friendship, sisterhood, and how power dynamics affect working-class women, questioning how much has truly changed since Tudor times.
Pickett expressed pride in bringing these characters to a wider audience, noting the story's relevance in today's world where political decisions reverberate through all lives. Further details about all new series will be announced in due course, with Crookhaven scheduled to premiere on BBC One, CBBC, and iPlayer later this spring.
