Category: Series

“Ellis” First Teaser Trailer

Only days after we’ve been treated with the first images from upcoming detective series Ellis, Acorn TV are now debuting a first teaser trailer.

It’s not the physical evidence that makes a story. It’s the people in between and the things that join those people together. Hate, love, and fear. Their lives are never the same again.

You can watch the trailer below:

DCI Ellis (Sharon D. Clarke) is a formidable cop who takes over the most challenging unsolved cases across Northwest England. Armed with integrity and razor-sharp instincts, Ellis steps in with unyielding determination as the last hope for failing investigations. Her unflappable demeanor disguises a deep-seated compassion for the victims, fueled by her complicated past. Amidst lies, secrets, and neglect, Ellis seeks justice for victims and truth for survivors.

In her endeavours DCI Ellis is accompanied by her right-hand man DS Chet Harper, played by Andrew Gower.

Ellis is set to be released later this year on Channel 5 in the UK and on Acorn TV in the USA. We’ll let you know as soon as we find out more!

“Ellis” First Images

After filming wrapped on new detective drama Ellis earlier this year, we are finally treated with some first images from the series.

DCI Ellis is a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. Each two-hour episode sees Ellis—accompanied by her right-hand man, DS Harper—arrive at a different police station, where she must win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve. As a Black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.

Ellis is played by Sharon D. Clarke (best known for her work on Holby City, Doctor Who and Red, White and Royal Blue) while her right-hand man Harper is played by Andrew Gower.

The series will consist of three feature-length episodes and is expected to be released on Channel 5 (UK) in autumn 2024. It will cross the pond to debut on Acorn TV (US), probably in early 2025.

Tellyvisions called Ellis “a mashup of Line of Duty and D.I. Ray” and added “that’s a compliment”:

Line of Duty would send a team into a different precinct every season to find out why investigations were not going as they were supposed to, with a writ to find the bad apple undermining police efforts. Ellis’ pacing is slightly different — each feature-length episode will move from precinct to precinct instead of each season, and investigations won’t always fail due to someone undermining things — but the setup and rotating guest cast remain the same. Meanwhile, Ellis, a Black British police inspector, will have to deal with constantly sexist and racist microaggressions from the different staff she encounters, much like D.I. Ray does, with the same drive to see justice done instead of blaming the nearest person of color.

While the images don’t give away much, we can anticipate that the new series will be a gritty turn towards the detective genre for Channel 5.

It’s a Wrap on “Ellis”

Source: Andrew Gower (Instagram)

It’s a wrap on Ellis, a new feature-length detective drama series coming to Channel 5 in the UK later this year. After a 4 months shoot in Belfast (Northern Ireland), the series is now ready to go into post-production.

Starring Sharon D. Clarke) as Ellis, a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations. As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.

Accompanied by her right-hand man DS Harper, played by Andrew Gower, she arrives at a different police station each week, where she will have to win over the local detectives and immerse herself in the cases she has come to solve.

As a black female cop, Ellis is used to being dismissed and overlooked, but she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.

Sharon D. Clarke & Andrew Gower

The Winter King Episode 1×10

The Winter King – Episode 10

After Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) is forced to cut a deal with the Saxon King Aelle (Craig Parkinson) - and at a much higher price he was initially willing to pay – he is determined more than ever to “kick every Saxon back into the sea from where they came.”

Derfel (Stuart Campbell) is trying to rescue Nimue (Ellie James) from the Island of the Dead. He finds her but they are soon trapped behind a sealed prison wall and attacked by the other inmates. Meanwhile Arthur and his warrior Sagramor (Ken Nwosu) are on their way to the Island as well to save Derfel and Nimue.

Morgan (Valene Kane) is still suspicious of new Bishop Sansum (Andrew Gower), especially when she finds him baptising servants at Caer Cadarn. When he later gifts her a book with stories from the Bible, she seems to become more susceptive to his ideas.

Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) finally reaches the cave he has previously seen in his vision and finds the Horn of Bran – one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain. However, as Merlin touches the Horn, it overflows with blood, which forms into the shape of Britain itself.

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The Winter King Episode 1×09

The Winter King – Episode 9

Morgan (Valene Kane) and Derfel (Stuart Campbell) return to Dumnonia with Bishop Bedwin’s (Steven Elder) body in tow and a surprising warning from Ceinwyn (Emily John). After Arthur’s betrayel her father King Gorfydd (Aneirin Hughes) has betrothed her to a Saxon king, Dumnonia’s worst enemies.

Sansum (Andrew Gower) leads the solemn funeral service for his predecessor. While Bedwin was a gentle man trying to ease Christian ways onto the pagan population of Britain, it is clear that Sansum is much more ambitious and much less patient. While Morgan, an aspiring Druidess herself, is still mourning the loss of her friend, she eyes Sansum with suspicion.

After his return Derfel looks for Nimue (Ellie James) and learns she was exiled to the Island of the Dead by Arthur as a punishment for her suspected involvement in the death of three Christians. Feeling obliged to her, Derfel investigates further and finds out the true cause of death and sets out to rescue her from a place, where no living soul can escape.

Guinevere (Jordan Alexandra) and Arthur fight when he realizes that she has gently steered him from the sidelines. His father’s abuse and banishment have left him with deep trust issues but as leader of Dumnonia, it’s time to start placing his trust in others. He finally hatches out a plan to buy valuable time in the looming war against Powys and the Saxons.

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The Winter King Episode 1×08

The Winter King – Episode 8

While Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) and Guinevere (Jordan Alexandra) are enjoying a moment of married bliss, many in Dumnonia are struggling yet again with one of Arthur’s decision: abandoning his plan to wed Ceinwyn (Emily John) and form a powerful alliance in favour of marrying a woman who – as she herself stated – has no titles or land.

Despite Guinevere’s warnings Morgan (Valene Kane) and Derfel (Stuart Campbell) head to Powys to negotiate peace and forgiveness for Arthur’s actions while Arthur is on his way to Iscar to deal with Cadwys (Billy Postlethwaite) who’s still unhappy about Owain’s demise and tests Arthur’s leadership.

In the meantime, Sansum (Andrew Gower), now a bishop, is facing his own challenges when he starts building a Christian church near Avalon. After Nimue (Ellie James) curses him and his followers, men start to die. On his return to Dumnonia, Arthur suspects the cause for their deaths might be a much wordlier one than Nimue lets to believe.

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The Winter King Episode 1×07

The Winter King – Episode 7

Arthur Pendragon (Iain De Caestecker) is caught between duty and his heart: he is betrothed to Ceinwyn (Emily John) but he is smitten with Guinevere (Jordan Alexandra). His marriarge is supposed to bring peace to the warring countries of Dumnonia and Powys. It doesn’t take Ceinwyn long to see what is going on between her best friend and her fiance. Her feelings are hurt but she offers a practical solution.

Being around Gundleus (Simon Merrells) – the man who killed his mother, assaulted Nimue and left himself for dead – is proving increasingly difficult for Derfel (Stuart Campbell). When Gundleus ambushes the young Saxon, Derfel is able to fight him off with Arthur’s help. Ladwys (Tatjana Nardone) warns her lover Gundleus to attack Derfel again or he will upset the Gods.

Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder) tries to talk sense into Arthur but his feelings for Guinevere are stronger than any concerns. He breaks off his engagement with Ceinwyn, who advises them to leave Caer Dolforwyn in the dead of night. When they find themselves near a lake, the Bishop leaves the party to try and mend affairs with Powys, which leaves Sansum, the Priest (Andrew Gower), to fulfil Arthur’s and Guinevere’s wish.

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The Winter King Episode 1×06

The Winter King – Episode 6

When Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) and Nimue (Ellie James) arrive in Caer Cadarn during the aftermath of Arthur’s (Iain De Caestecker) and Owain’s (Daniel Ings) fatal duel, Merlin takes the chance to declare Arthur the new ruler of Dumnonia. In a private moment, he later explains the origins of the sword, Arthur had found in his mother’s workshop.

Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder), Sansum (Andrew Gower) and Derfel’s (Stuart Campbell) accompany Arthur on his way to Caer Dolforwyn to woe the “Star of Powys” Ceinwyn (Emily John), King Gorfydd’s (Aneirin Hughes) only daughter. The night before they arrive at court, however, Arthur meets a mysterious beautiful lady by a lake, who he is instantly attracted to.

Merlin has a vision of himself and the Horn of Bran, one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain, which are mythical items said to be infused with magic properties. He sets out on a mission to find the Horn because he believes that if all Treasures are united again, the quarreling tribes of Britain will also re-unite.

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The Winter King Episode 1×04

The Winter King – Episode 4

When Arthur’s (Iain De Caestecker) decisions continue to be encountered by incomprehension by many residents of Caer Cadarn, Arthur visits the place where his mother, a swordsmaker and King Uther’s (Eddie Marson) lover, used to lived. While he and his sister Morgan (Valene Kane) reminisce about their cildhood, Arthur comes across an old, rusted sword and decides to bring it back to the castle with him.

Meanwhile, Derfel (Stuart Campbell) joins Owain (Daniel Ings) on a mission to collect the overdue tax from King Cadwys (Billy Postlethwaite). They suspect that Cadwys lies about “bad harvests” in order to avoid paying his taxes, so Owain orders his men to lie in hiding while a messenger announces their immediate arrival. Their plan to uncover the hidden treasures succeeds but when Cadwys offers Owain an alternative deal, things go haywire.

Later, Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) returns to Avalon where he meets a distraught Nimue (Ellie James), who is plagued by nightmares. He encourages her to follow the path the Gods have paved for her even though it means more personal sacrifices for her. Next Merlin visits Arthur and while there is genuine affection and respect between them, it also becomes clear that their vision of the future of Britain and how it is ruled, is vastly at odds.

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The Winter King Episode 1×03

The Winter King – Episode 3

The episode sets in right after the devastating events known as the “Avalon massacre” and just after Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) returns to Dumnonia in the nick of time to save the small group of survivors including his half-brother, the Edling King Mordred. He and his men are welcomed back at Caer Cadarn by Bishop Bedwin (Steven Elder) and the priest Sansum (Andrew Gower).

Arthur’s decision to hold King Gundleus (Simon Merrells) prisoner – instead of executing him for his crimes – is not met with approval by druidess Nimue (Ellie James) and Arthur’s sister Morgan (Valene Kane). Nimue, who was brutally raped by Gundleus, confides in her friend and almost-lover Derfel (Stuart Campbell) and makes him swear a blood oath to bind them together forever.

Arthur remembers Derfel as the boy he once saved from a death pit, and Derfel expresses his desire to become a warrior. He looks up to Arthur and feels loyal to him which puts him at odds with Nimue, who he still loves. Owain (Daniel Ings) also returns to the castle and his wounded men are treated by the women while the dying are helped to cross over to the afterlife by Nimue and Sansum.

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