CBC is bringing four acclaimed dramas to Canadian audiences on CBC TV and and CBC Gem this spring, including the Canadian network premiere of the BAFTA and Emmy-nominated historical series VICTORIA (2017) on Monday, March 22; the Canadian network premiere of new British detective series MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE (2020) on Monday, March 29; the exclusive Canadian premiere of BBC limited series US (2020) starring Tom Hollander on Sunday, April 4; and the Canadian broadcast premiere of new Australian psychological thriller THE SECRET SHE KEEPS (2020) starring Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael on Wednesday, April 14.
VICTORIA Season 1 (2017, 1x90 + 7x60, Mammoth Screen, UK) *Canadian Network Premiere*
Premieres Monday, March 22 with a 90-minute debut at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem, followed by new one-hour episodes Mondays at 9 p.m. (9:30NT) starting March 29.
“The world bows down to Jenna Coleman's Victoria” – Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter
“Call me shallow, or just contrary, for preferring the breezy, full-blooded pleasures of Victoria to the more finely wrought, stiffer virtues of The Crown” – Mike Hale, The New York Times
Starring Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) as the candid, spirited monarch Queen Victoria, this ambitious series navigates the scandal, corruption and political intrigues of the Court, from the Queen’s ascension to the throne at the tender age of 18, through to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert, played by Tom Hughes (A Discovery of Witches, The Game, Dancing on the Edge, Silk).
MISS SCARLET AND THE DUKE Season 1 (2020, 6x60, A+E, Element 8 Entertainment, Shinawil Productions, USA and UK) *Canadian Network Premiere*
Premieres Monday, March 29 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV, with all episodes dropping on CBC Gem on March 29.
“...good fun for fans of English period-piece mysteries” - John Doyle, The Globe and Mail
“Phillips' performance is so enthralling it brings thrills on its own and enhances everyone else's work” – Kristen Lopez, IndieWire
“It’s an easy-to-take show that does most everything well, looks good, has a lively pulse”; “A romp with murder, and bustles” – Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times
Set in the same 1850's London society that gave rise to Jack the Ripper, this British detective drama features a fearless, independent heroine played by Kate Phillips (Peaky Blinders). With her inquisitive mind, Miss Scarlet has always been more interested in running her late father's detective agency than behaving like a proper lady. But nothing has prepared her for the dangers she is about to face as a woman in the murder investigation trade when she joins Scotland Yard Inspector William “The Duke” Wellington, played by Stuart Martin (Jamestown, Medici, Babylon), to solve a crime.
US (2020, 6x60, Drama Republic, Bandstand, UK) *Exclusive Canadian Premiere*
Premieres Sunday, April 4 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC TV, with all episodes dropping on CBC Gem on April 4.
“Offers warmth and wanderlust”; “Us is easy to like” – Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian
“A good telling of this tender, heart-wrenching story” – Carol Midgey, The Times (UK)
Based on David Nicholls’ best-selling novel of the same name and adapted by Nicholls for television, this BBC dramedy stars Tom Hollander (Baptise, Taboo, Rev.) as Douglas Petersen, who is blindsided when his wife Connie (Saskia Reeves; Belgravia) tells him that she’s not sure she wants to be married to him anymore. Agreeing to still go on their planned family grand tour of Europe, Douglas vows to win back the love of his wife and repair his troubled relationship with their son Albie (Tom Taylor; The Last Kingdom). Reflecting Nicholls' signature mix of humour and heartbreak, US brings the Petersens' poignant and often hilarious story to life, taking viewers with them on their once-in-a-lifetime journey through some of the most beautiful cities in the world.
THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS (2020, 6x60, Lingo Pictures, Australia) *Canadian Broadcast Premiere*
Premieres Wednesday, April 14 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) with back-to-back episodes airing weekly on CBC TV, and all episodes dropping on CBC Gem on April 14.
“[A] yummy mummy thriller”; “sit back and enjoy” – Lucy Mangan, The Guardian
“Keeps the viewer guessing” – Suzi Feay, Financial Times
Based on the psychological thriller and best-selling novel by Michael Robotham, THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS is a riveting and suspenseful series starring Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey, The Spanish Princess) as Agatha and Jessica De Gouw (The Hunting Riot, Underground) as Meghan - two women that have a chance encounter in a supermarket in an affluent Sydney Suburb. They are the same age, both heavily pregnant and due at the same time. Meghan is a glamorous online ‘influencer’ on the rise with an ambitious television sports reporter husband Jack (Michael Dorman). Agatha works in the supermarket as a shelf stacker. Although they live near each other, the two women come from vastly different backgrounds with explosive secrets that could destroy everything they hold dear. Both will risk everything to conceal the truth, but their worlds are about to collide in one shocking act that cannot be undone.
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CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
For more information, please contact:
Elizabeth Reid - CBC PR
416.985.1384
