Sharon D Clarke To Star In Detective Drama Series ‘Ellis’ For Acorn TV & UK’s Channel 5

Peter White

6 February 2024 at 4:30 pm·2-min read

Acorn TV, the Anglophilic streaming service, has partnered with Paramount’s British broadcaster Channel 5 on a new three-part detective drama series starring Sharon D Clarke.

The two networks have ordered Ellis, a feature-length series that stars Clarke as the eponymous detective.

More from Deadline

Dominican Actress Yovanna Ventura Signs With Vision; Goteborg TV Drama Nominees; Dan Snow Doc - Global Briefs
Paramount's Channel 5 Snaps Up Pair Of Steve Backshall Series On Hippos & Crocodiles From 'Predators' Producer True To Nature
Gaumont UK Lands Latest Channel 5 Thriller; Juno Dawson Series For Altitude; Ukrainian Anthology Sales; ZDF Kim Dotcom Drama - Global Briefs

Clarke, who is best known for her role on British hospital drama Holby City, is a three-time Olivier Award winner and a 2022 Tony Award nominee and has starred in series including BBC’s Showtrial and appeared in Rocketman.

The series follows DCI Ellis, a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. Each two-hour episode sees Ellis – accompanied by her right-hand man DS Harper, played by Andrew Gower (Outlander) – arrive at a different police station, where she will have to win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve. As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.

The series is produced by All3Media’s Company Pictures in association with Northern Ireland Screen. It is exec produced by Catherine Mackin, Bea Tammer, Michele Buck and Lucy Raffety. Chris Martin is producer and writers are Paul Logue and Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre. All3Media International will distribute.

Ellis is set to begin filming this spring in Northern Ireland and will air on Acorn TV and Channel 5 later this year.

Catherine Mackin, Managing Director, Acorn Media Enterprises, said, “Acorn TV is known for compelling, intriguing and invigorating detective dramas, and Ellis delivers on every note. We are elated to have found our ideal DCI in the incomparable Sharon D. Clarke, and we are excited to work with both Channel 5 and Company Pictures again.”

Paramount UK’s Deputy Chief Content Officer Sebastian Cardwell added, “Ellis is a brilliant addition to our scripted slate, and we are thrilled to be working with the teams at Acorn TV and Company Pictures on this gripping new series. I can’t wait to see the incredible Sharon D. Clarke bring DCI Ellis to life.”

Clarke is repped by Scott Marshall in the UK and Entertainment 360.

Best of Deadline

The Independent
I was at the Trump-Biden presidential debate and it became very clear what had gone wrong
When the debate ended, the Biden surrogates were nowhere to be found — until they emerged, grim-faced, as a group, and the rumors began. Andrew Feinberg reports on what happened behind the scenes at the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia — and why the president’s performance went so badly
The Guardian
Who could replace Joe Biden? Here are six possibilities
With Biden not yet officially endorsed as Democratic presidential candidate, it is in theory open to the party to choose another candidate
Twentytwo13
Malaysians on tenterhooks after Johor Regent takes on Selangor Sultan in public domain
The football drama in Malaysia has reached fever-pitch, with the spotlight now on the Johor and Selangor palaces. The post Malaysians on tenterhooks after Johor Regent takes on Selangor Sultan in public domain appeared first on Twentytwo13.
Associated Press
An Indian military tank sinks while crossing a river in a region bordering China, killing 5 soldiers
Five Indian soldiers were killed when a military tank they were travelling in sank while crossing a river in the remote region of Ladakh that borders China, officials said Saturday. The tank sank early Saturday due to sudden increase in the water levels of Shyok River during a military training activity, according to an Indian army command center statement. It said the accident took place in Saser Brangsa near the Line of Actual Control that divides India and China in the Ladakh region.
Evening Standard
Police investigate video 'showing female prison officer having sex with inmate in Wandsworth Prison cell'
The Ministry of Justice called in police after the video was released online
The Independent
‘Panic mode’ Democrats begin calling for Biden to step aside after ‘horrible’ debate performance against Trump
‘Need to have Harris take over. Cleanest option,’ one Democrat strategist told The Independent
The Telegraph
‘This wasn’t a debate, it was a medical emergency’: Our writers give their verdicts
Follow the latest reaction in our live blog
People
Griff Is Giving Away the Dress She Wore to Open for Taylor Swift: ‘Wanted to Pass It Down’
The singer revealed she is giving away her "But Daddy I Love Him"-inspired dress she wore when she opened at the Eras Tour on June 22
CNN
China expels two former defense ministers from Communist Party as military purge deepens
China on Thursday expelled its former Defense Minister Li Shangfu from the ruling Communist Party over corruption allegations, state broadcaster CCTV reported, eight months after he was dramatically removed from the post.
SETHLUI.COM
Owners of private diner with 2 years waitlist open curry mee stall at Havelock Food Centre
The post Owners of private diner with 2 years waitlist open curry mee stall at Havelock Food Centre appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
Hello!
Tess Daly shows off sky-high legs in spellbinding swimsuit from lavish summer getaway
Strictly's Tess Daly never disappoints when it comes to summer fashion but did you see her latest swimsuit snap? See photo.
INSIDER
A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired off a new 'fire and forget' missile for the first time in the Pacific, striking a moving vessel
The precision "fire and forget" AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Munition was fired at a moving sea target in waters off Japan.
BBC
China honours woman who died saving Japanese family
Hu Youping, a bus attendant, tried to restrain an assailant at a bus stop outside a Japanese school.
INSIDER
A grinding Russian assault appears telling about Putin's plan to defeat Ukraine
ISW's conflict experts warned that the West must "challenge Putin's belief that he can gradually subsume Ukraine."
France 24
Hezbollah fires rockets at military base in Israel, says four fighters killed
Hezbollah said it fired "dozens" of rockets Thursday at a military base in northern Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon, announcing four of its fighters had been killed. Fears of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah have risen in recent weeks as threats have intensified between the sides, which have traded regular cross-border fire since Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip.Hamas ally Hezbollah said that "in response to the enemy attacks that targ
The Independent
Breaking ranks: Justice Amy Coney Barrett defies Supreme Court conservatives to back environmental protections
Justice Barrett, a Trump appointee, split from her conservative colleagues in recent decisions
INSIDER
Singapore won best first-class airline in the world for its exclusive hotel-like Airbus A380 suite. Here's what it's like inside.
Singapore beat out Air France and Emirates for the world's best first-class, complete with a double bed. Tickets can cost up to $30,000 roundtrip.
BuzzFeed
Flight Attendants Are Sharing The Most Entitled Passengers They've Ever Had To Deal With, And I'm Disgusted
"Every so often, we get the odd straggler who boards last and finds a vacant seat in first or business, thinking that we won't know that they are from coach."
BBC
Dying together: Why a happily married couple decided to stop living
Jan and Els sought medical intervention to end their lives after 50 happy years of marriage.
BuzzFeed
"My Co-Workers Surrounded Me As He Was Escorted Out": 18 Times Employees Were Absolute Heroes And Got Revenge On Their Awful Bosses
"She told the owners, and he was gone the next day. A week later, his wife left him."

Latest stories