Following the runaway success of Poldark the BBC has commissioned another period drama set in the West Country, this time a supernatural mystery called The Living and the Dead.
The BBC1 drama, set in Somerset in 1894, centres on a young couple who inherit a farm in an “isolated corner of England” and become subject to “unsettling and dangerous supernatural phenomena”.
The six-part series, which is being produced by Poldark’s Eliza Mellor, sees Colin Morgan, of Merlin and Humans, take the lead role as Nathan Appleby.
“The Living and the Dead is one of those scripts that you read and are instantly compelled and engaged by,” said Morgan. “It’s intelligent, chilling and engrossing.”
The drama also stars Charlotte Spencer, whose credits include Channel 4 drama Glue and BBC2’s Line of Duty, who plays wife Charlotte Appleby.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to appear in a period drama,” said Spencer. “Fantastic, original scripts and, in Charlotte Appleby, a superb character who’s strong, passionate and gutsy.”
The series has been created by Ashley Pharoah, whose credits include Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.
Filming of the series, which is being promoted with the tagline “What lies beneath should be left beneath”, has already begun on locations in the West Country.
The Living and the Dead is a BBC Wales drama production in association with Monastic Productions and co-produced with BBC America.
