RIVERS OF LONDON: SKY TO ADAPT BEN AARONOVITCH'S NOVEL INTO TV DRAMA

Sky have reportedly commissioned new drama series, an adaptation of Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers Of London, Deadline reports.

The synopsis for the book reads: "My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else)...

"My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England...

"Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden...

"...and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair. The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying."

Meanwhile, Colin Firth and Catherine McCormack lead the cast of Lockerbie: A Search For Truth, a Sky Original limited series which sees McCormack play the role of Jane Swire, wife of Dr. Jim Swire (Firth).

Both Jim and Jane tragically lost their beloved daughter, Flora, in the devastating terror attack on Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. The powerful five-part series will explore their search for justice ever since. 

Revealed to join the the cast alongside McCormack and Firth are Sam Troughton (Chernobyl) as Murray Guthrie, Mark Bonnar (Napoleon, Guilt) as Roderick McGill, Andy Nyman (A Small Light, Judy) as Edwin Bollier, Ardalan Esmaili (Opponent) as Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and Selwa Jghalef (Layers) as Aisha.

On 21st December 1988, 259 passengers and crew were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie 38 minutes after take-off, with a further 11 residents losing their life as the plane came down over the quiet, Scottish town. 

In the wake of the disaster and his daughter’s death, Dr Jim Swire (Firth), is nominated spokesperson for the UK victims’ families, who have united to demand truth and justice. Travelling across continents and political divides, Jim embarks on a relentless journey that not only jeopardises his stability, family and life, but completely overturns his trust in the justice system. As the truth shifts under Jim’s feet, his view of the world is left forever sullied.

Exploring events from the disaster and its aftermath, Lockerbie provides an intimate account of a man, a husband, and a father who risks everything in memory of his daughter and the unflinching pursuit of truth and justice.

The five-part series is a co-production between Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, and Sky Studios. Renowned Scottish playwright David Harrower (Blackbird, Knives in Hens) is lead writer. Maryam Hamidi (Vigil) is guest writer on an episode. Additional writing by Jim, Kirsten and Naomi Sheridan.

Lockerbie: A Search For The Truth launches 2nd January 2025 on Sky Atlantic.