Star of anticipated new detective drama reveals how Doctor Who influenced the character

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Mark Gatiss, the literary-leaning creator of the detective series, has disclosed that the character development in his show was significantly impacted by “Doctor Who.

In the forthcoming series, debuting on U&Alibi this coming Wednesday (July 16), Mark Gatiss takes on the role of Gabriel Book, an eccentric antique bookstore proprietor who lends a hand to the police in resolving crimes set in 1940s London.

Prior to the release, Gatiss discussed the origins of the character Gabriel with RadioTimes. During this conversation, it was disclosed that his work on the extended BBC sci-fi series played a role in helping him find the appropriate balance for the main character’s portrayal.

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According to Gatiss, “Doctor Who” was the most significant aid for him, since I too have heard that discussion among Doctors during my upbringing. Interestingly, Jon Pertwee (the Third Doctor) once stated, “I simply played it as myself,” which was a fascinating concept for me.

I’m grateful for the spare moments I had. In those instances, thoughts often run through your mind such as, ‘I believe that’s working, that’s not, let’s give this a try.’ It’s essentially a mix of planning on paper, imagining it in my mind, and then figuring out how to make it happen in reality.

In the series titled “Bookish“, created jointly by Matthew Sweet, the star-studded ensemble comprises of actors such as Daniel Mays, Joely Richardson, Elliot Levey, and Polly Walker. Notably, Polly Walker portrays the character of Trottie, who is Gabriel’s wife in this production.

According to the logline, Gabriel’s connection to the police force can be risky due to his hidden sexual orientation as a gay man. Meanwhile, his work in solving crimes becomes more complex with the appearance of the enigmatic figure, Connor Finch.

Labeled as a “unique period detective drama,” the show’s continuation past its initial six episodes has already been assured, as a second season was approved more than two months prior to its debut premiere.

Gatiss expressed his excitement about resuming work on the ‘Bookish’ series with U&Alibi’s team, where he gets to devise even more intricate mysteries for Gabriel Book and his colleagues to untangle. He can hardly contain his anticipation for audiences to delve into the world we’ve fashioned.

Bookish will premiere on U&Alibi on 16 July.

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2025-07-13 18:18