Mark Gatiss's 'Bookish' Gets a Third Season and a Christmas Special
Mark Gatiss's cozy crime drama Bookish will return for a six-episode third season on UKTV's U&Alibi channel in 2027, with a two-part Christmas special arriving first in 2026 Deadline.
The festive special, titled Bookish: The Crown of Destiny, puts bookshop owner Gabriel Book — played by Gatiss — at the centre of a seasonal mystery. It airs ahead of the third season, which goes into production later in 2026.
Gatiss created the series and stars as Book, an unconventional bookshop proprietor who helps police solve crimes in post-World War II Britain. The character lives in a lavender marriage — a partnership of appearance rather than romance — with Trottie, played by Polly Walker, designed to hide his sexuality during an era when homosexuality was illegal in the UK.
The show's second season aired on U&Alibi in August 2025, with Book cracking three more cases across six episodes. Carolina Giammetta returned as director and executive producer for that run, alongside producer Jake Harvey, with scripts from Gatiss and other writers including Matthew UKTV Corporate.
Bookish is produced by Eagle Eye Drama — part of ITV Studios — in association with Happy Duck Films, with support from the Belgian Tax Shelter. Germany-based Beta Film handles world sales as international distributor, and PBS Distribution holds North American rights.
The series has travelled widely. It has been sold to over 100 territories, including Radio-Canada in Canada, HBO Max in Australia, RAI in Italy and AMC Networks in Latin America.
For fans, the Christmas special offers a first chance to revisit Gabriel Book's world between full seasons, while the 2027 third-season commitment confirms UKTV sees a long-term future for the drama on U&Alibi.
