Ovation TV Signs Deal with BBC Studios for “Death in Paradise” and “Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators”

Ovation TV, America’s premier arts network, has signed a deal with BBC Studios for non-exclusive linear rights to two beloved detective series: the fish-out-of-water Death in Paradise (88 60-minute episodes) and the quirky Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators (40 60-minute episodes). The deal, which provides Ovation with premium mystery programming, covers eleven seasons of Death in Paradise and four seasons of Shakespeare & Hathaway. New episodes of Death in Paradise began airing on April 7th; Shakespeare & Hathaway will begin airing in July 2023. The announcement was made today by Scott Woodward, EVP of Programming and Production at Ovation.

“Death in Paradise and Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators are excellent titles that will complement our other mystery programming like Murdoch Mysteries and Midsomer Murders perfectly,” stated Woodward. “Ovation is once again pleased to partner with BBC Studios on such outstanding acquisitions.”

A global hit and sold to over 200 territories and counting, Death in Paradise follows Richard Poole (Ben Miller), a detective inspector in the UK Police, as he is transferred to the fictional Caribbean island Saint-Marie’s police department; however, he hates the sun, sea, and sand. The series follow his investigations into murders on the island. Kris Marshall joins the series as detective Humphrey Goodman in seasons 3-6; Ardal O’Hanlon joins as Jack Mooney in season 6; Ralf Little takes over as Neville Parker in season 9. Death in Paradise is a Red Planet Pictures production for the BBC, distributed internationally by BBC Studios. Produced with the support of the Guadeloupe Regional Council.

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators stars Mark Benton as the hard-boiled Frank Hathaway and Jo Joyner as his rookie sidekick Lu Shakespeare and is created by Paul Matthew Thompson and Jude Tindall. The unlikely pair forms a partnership as they investigate extramarital affairs, murderous magicians, abducted au pairs, and more in Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwickshire. Despite their constant disagreements, the duo makes a good team in the action-packed, fun-filled drama. Shakespeare & Hathaway is a BBC Studios production for the BBC, distributed internationally by BBC Studios.

For more information about Ovation TV, visit https://ovationtv.com.