As Tellyspotting landed in the UK Friday morning, there was a bit of ‘Joy in Mudville’ news already waiting for us to report on as ITV announced that Rowan Atkinson, the former star of Blackadder and Mr Bean, is making a return to television to play Belgian author Georges Simenon’s pipe-smoking policeman, Jules Maigret, in two new films for the channel. Atkinson will take on the role which originally made famous by the brilliant talents of Michael Gambon (Singing Detective, Harry Potter) back in the early 1990’s.
ITV’s Director of Television, Peter Fincham, confirmed Friday the commission of two stand-alone dramatic films featuring the legendary French fictional detective. With his iconic heavy coat and trademark pipe, the character of Jules Maigret first appeared in print in 1931. Georges Simenon, who wrote 75 Maigret novels, is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, selling around a billion books worldwide to date. I know that sounds a bit like Dr. Evil in Austin Powers but it’s true.
Set in the 1950’s in Paris, “Maigret Sets A Trap” is adapted from the Simenon novel “Maigret tend un piège.” The second film “Maigret’s Dead Man” is based on “Maigret et son mort.”
On his role as the insightful detective, Jules Maigret, Rowan Atkinson said: “I have been a devourer of the Maigret novels for many years and I’m very much looking forward to playing such an intriguing character, at work in Paris during a fascinating period in its history“.
“Maigret Sets A Trap” and “Maigret’s Dead Man”, will go into production for ITV transmission in September 2015, produced by Ealing Studios and Maigret Productions Ltd. Maigret will be written by Stewart Harcourt (Love & Marriage, Treasure Island, Marple). Let’s hope there is a PBS broadcast somewhere in the 2016 timeframe!
If this is how the week is going to go, I can’t wait to report back on what the BBC has in store for telly watchers in the coming year.
The fifties were an interesting decade in the UK. Though the dangers of WW2 had passed, rationing remained in effect through the early part of the decade. Many women who’d entered the workforce to help out during the war were back at home. Those who’d delayed families until after the war were now raising young children – and while big social change was on the horizon, much of that would wait for the 60s and 70s.
All of that makes it a unique backdrop for a TV series – and below, we take a look at some of the best.
Father Brown
First airing in 2013, this adaptation of GK Chesterton’s stories stars Mark Williams as the titular character. Set in the early 1950s in the fictional Cotswold village of Kembleford, it follows Father Brown, a Roman Catholic priest with a knack for solving crimes.
The era is brought to life with authentic period details, including costumes, vehicles, and set designs that reflect the post-war British countryside. Along with the mysteries, storylines include topics like class division, changing gender roles, and the impact of the war on rural communities. Father Brown’s unique position as a priest allows him to interact with a wide range of characters, from the aristocracy to the working class, providing several different perspectives on the time period.
Each episode features standalone mysteries that Father Brown picks apart using his unique mix of intuition, empathy, and understanding of human nature. The show’s depiction of the 1950s is both nostalgic and critical, highlighting the era’s charm while not shying away from its complexities.
Last spotted on: BritBox
The Crown
This well-funded Netflix series chronicles the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II, beginning shortly before her ascent to the throne and ending in 2005. The first two seasons, set in the 1950s, are particularly significant as they depict the early years of her reign.
Claire Foy’s portrayal of the young queen captures her transition from a newlywed to a monarch navigating the complexities of leadership. Key events include her accession to the throne following the death of her father, King George VI, the challenges of balancing her public duties with her personal life, and significant political moments such as the Suez Crisis and the resignation of Winston Churchill.
The main thing to remember, of course, is that the series is not a documentary. Though it makes for compelling viewing, much of the action is entirely made up or based on rumours, so it’s a good idea to keep your favourite search engine handy if you’re curious about what’s real, what’s not, and what’s been left out entirely.
Last spotted on: Netflix
Born & Bred
This nostalgia-loaded series aired from 2002 to 2005, starring James Bolam as Dr. Arthur Gilder and Michael French as his son, Dr. Tom Gilder. Set in the small village of Ormston in Lancashire during the 1950s, it captures the essence of post-war Britain with a focus on family, community, and the changing social landscape.
The majority of the action revolves around the father-son duo who run the local medical practice, focusing on both their personal dramas and their efforts to bring modern healthcare to the rural community. It explores a number of aspects of 1950s life, including the impact of the National Health Service, which had been established only a few years prior, and some of the social shifts that followed World War II.
One additional fun fact – the series was co-created by Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch, Doctor Who) and Nigel McCrery (Silent Witness, New Tricks).
Last spotted on: DVD (you’ll need a region-free DVD player, and we recommend checking both Amazon US and UK because prices vary quite a bit)
Quirke
Set in 1950s Dublin, Quirke stars Gabriel Byrne as Quirke, a pathologist who works to uncover the dark secrets behind the bodies that cross his table – as well as a larger mystery involving his own family. Based on John Banville’s novels, the three-part series offers a vivid depiction of post-war Ireland.
Last spotted on: BritBox
Magpie Murders
Magpie Murders is a unique series because it uses a story-within-a-story format. Based on Anthony Horowitz’s bestselling novel, the main story follows a present-day book editor, Susan Ryeland, who’s looking for the missing chapter of a dead author’s final novel. At the same time, we’re brought into the mystery of the novel itself, a 1950s-based tale about the murder of housekeeper Mary Blakiston.
The dual plots make for an interesting format, juxtaposing modern times against the more conservative era of the fictional author’s novel. Though both the TV adaptation and the book it was based on can be a bit “love it or hate it”, it’s a well-constructed tale and the stories are woven together quite masterfully. A second season based on the follow-up, Moonflower Murders, is in the works.
Last spotted on: PBS Masterpiece
The Hour
The Hour is a particularly interesting 1950s-based drama, as it follows the behind-the-scenes workings of a fictional new current affairs television program launched by the BBC. Airing from 2011 to 2012, it starred Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai, and Dominic West, and episodes explored topics like the Cold War, the Suez Crisis, and the burgeoning civil rights movement.
All of that was crafted around a larger story about the personal and work lives of the journalists themselves, including things like journalistic integrity, censorship, and the struggle for gender equality in the workplace (oh, and a love triangle, which is always good fun).
Last spotted on: Acorn TV (Tubi & Pluto have also had it recently, free with ads)
Jericho (AKA Jericho of Scotland Yard)
This 2005 series starred Robert Lindsay as Chief Inspector Michael Jericho. Set in 1950s London, it offered a look into the life of a detective working in a rapidly changing post-war society. Each episode presents a standalone mystery, but the overarching narrative explores Jericho’s personal struggles and professional challenges.
Along with a variety of cases that range from murder to political intrigue, the series also looks at the societal norms, changing police techniques, cultural shifts, and technological advancements of the decade, reflecting the optimism and underlying tensions of the era.
Though it was somewhat well-received, the numbers weren’t quite good enough to get the show renewed for a second season – so sadly, there are only four episodes. Fans of To the Manor Born will enjoy seeing Peter Bowles in a couple episodes (as Fleming), and CB Strike fans will enjoy seeing a young Tom Burke in the role of Edward Wellesley.
