BritBox to Stream Channel 5 Series 'The Inheritance'

The announcement that the BBC was buying out ITV's share of BritBox International, officially severing the original deal between the two main U.K. networks that jointly owned the streaming service, viewers were worried about what that might mean for BritBox's lineup. Many of the high-profile series that have come to BritBox in the States have been co-productions with ITV or shows that aired jointly on ITV, which, up until then, had kept the BritBox UK moniker for its ITVX streaming service. (BritBox UK and BritBox International became two separate companies in 2021 when ITV bought out the BBC's half of the home country version.) However, the BBC was adamant no current deals would be halted. The hope seemed to be bringing over shows from all the different U.K. networks to create a true "BritBox."

Of course, changes are still afoot, with new hires and talk of heading up BritBox's coming "rebranding" efforts, which will most likely center the BBC as part of the revamping. (The BBC's buyout was as much driven by its failure to launch a successful solo international streaming service as it was by ITV's need for a cash influx to bolster the ITVX brand in the U.K.) However, the hope of bringing in series from other U.K. networks like Channels 4 and 5 does seem to be on track, with the announcement that BritBox International has struck a deal with Channel 5 for the exclusive right stream of its limited series The Inheritance, its most-watched drama of 2023.

Originally greenlit by apparently company Paramount, the Channel 5 drama stars two well-known PBS faces. Robert James-Collier, the infamous Downton Abbey footman who has since risen to Butler status in the films, stars as Daniel, with Samantha Bond, who also starred in Downton (though she's now more known for her upcoming turn in The Marlow Murder Club), as his mother. When the family patriarch passes away, the family must deal with the fallout, especially when they discover the family's money was left to a complete stranger.

Here's the show's synopsis:

The Inheritance follows three siblings who are left reeling after the unexpected death of their father. When it turns out they have not left anything in the will, they embark on a dangerous journey to figure out whether his death was truly a tragic accident, or whether it was, in fact, murder.

Bond and James-Collier are joined by co-stars Gaynor Faye (The Syndicate) and Jemima Rooper (The Girlfriend Experience) as Daniel's sisters, Sian and Chloe. The rest of the cast includes Larry Lamb (Midsomer Murders), Kevin Whately (Inspector Lewis), Adil Ray (Ackley Bridge), Rory Fleck Byrne (This Is Going to Hurt), Pauline McLynn (Holding), and Risteard Cooper (The Power).

The series was written by Catherine Tate's right-hand woman, Aschlin Ditta (The Queen of Oz). Director Aku Louhimies helms all four episodes. The series is a co-production from Night Train Media, Lonesome Pine Productions, and Peer Pressure.

The Inheritance is expected to debut on BritBox before the end of 2024.