ITV has snapped up the rights to Death At The White Hart, the debut novel from Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, before the book even hits shelves. The network has given the adaptation a straight-to-series order, meaning it’s skipping the pilot stage.
Here’s the Lowdown: The story is set in the Dorset village of Fleetcombe, where the local pub landlord is found murdered. Detective Nicola Bridge is tasked with solving the crime, uncovering a tangle of secrets and feuds within the community. Chibnall is adapting his own novel for the screen, and production starts next year. The novel itself will be published on March 27, 2025, in the UK, and June 10, 2025 in the USA.
What This Means Now: This is a major vote of confidence in Chibnall’s new work. ITV is clearly expecting big things, given they’ve commissioned a full series before the book’s release. It’s also a return to familiar territory for Chibnall, as the story is set in Dorset, the same location as Broadchurch.
The Bigger Picture: This deal highlights the strong relationship between Chibnall and ITV. Broadchurch was a huge success for the network. The pre-emptive series order indicates high expectations for this new murder mystery, which is being described as “a specifically British story about how people live their lives right now.” Red Planet Pictures, who secured the adaptation rights in a competitive bidding war, will produce. Death At The White Hart will air on ITV1 and STV, and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player.
