Get Your First Look at Martin Clunes as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Martin Clunes as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Photo: Courtesy of Neil Genower/Buffalo Films for MASTERPIECE)
Martin Clunes as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Photo: Courtesy of Neil Genower/Buffalo Films for MASTERPIECE)
ITV has released the first trailer for its upcoming three part series Arthur and George, a three-part drama based on an intriguing series of events in the life of famed Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Set in 1903, the story focuses on Conan Doyle’s real-life attempts to clear George Edaliji, an Anglo-Indian solicitor who is serving time in Pentonville Prison after being (falsely) accused of a series of attacks on livestock in Staffordshire that have become known as the The Great Wyrley Rippings.

Beloved Doc Martin star Martin Clunes sheds his Britcom snarkiness to play Conan Doyle, joined by The Guilty’s Arsher Ali as Edaliji. Other cast includes Hattie Morahan, Charles Edwards, Art Malik, Emma Fielding and Sandra Voe. 

Anyway, the story goes like this: Upon learning of Edaliji’s plight and glimpsing the headlines concerning the animal mutilations, Arthur joins forces with his trusted manservant Alfred “Woody” Wood to challenge this miscarriage of justice. The case is apparently part of what stirs Conan Doyle back to life following the death of his wife.

Watch the first trailer for yourselves below: 

Sadly, no sign of a Benedict Cumberbatch cameo, I hate to tell you. But that super meta stroll through a distinctly The Hound of the Baskervilles-style more seemed pretty on the nose.

No airdate has been listed yet for either side of the pond, but we do know that Arthur and George will be screening on PBS stations nationwide as part of this year’s Masterpiece lineup later in 2015.

Thoughts? 


Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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