'The Inheritance' Will Be Bequeathed to BritBox in October 2024

Robert James-Collier is one of the few Downton Abbey actors who was a relative newcomer. He stuck it out for the series' full run and all the movies but has yet to fully break out beyond his role of the LGBTQ+ butler. Part of this stems from his being a working-class actor from Manchester who has been a vocal activist for making acting more accessible to those not from middle- and upper-class backgrounds. His pride in his roots means he rarely plays anything but working-class characters and almost always uses his natural accent. However, he's spectacular when the proper role does come along, like Daniel in The Inheritance. The series, which initially debuted on Channel 5, will now cross the pond and stream on BritBox, giving Americans a new chance to see him work.

James-Collier isn't the only Downton Abbey alum who signed onto the family drama either. Samantha Bond, who was a long-established star thanks to the James Bond franchise when she was cast as Lady Rosamund, also co-stars in the four-part series as Susan. The miniseries is one part black comedy of a family dealing with the fallout of the passing of the patriarch, one part emotional weep fest, and one part murder mystery as the siblings start putting together their father's death may not have been as accidental as it appears.

The two star in the series as mother and son: Susan is the widow of the now deceased Dennis, and Daniel as his eldest child and only male progeny. However, what happened to dear old dad is only the tip of the iceberg for these family secrets.

Here's the series synopsis:

The Inheritance follows siblings Daniel, Sian, and Chloe, who are part of a seemingly close and loving family. The trio are left reeling after the sudden death of their father, Dennis, and are later devastated to discover they have not been left their expected inheritance in his will. This leads them to question whether he really did die in an accident, as they were told, or if he was murdered. Their investigation takes them down a dangerous path, and they see secrets unravel, relationships ripped apart, and lives lost.

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 Aschlin Ditta (The Queen of Oz), who is best known for being Catherine Tate's writing partner in comedy. Director Aku Louhimies helms all four episodes. The series is a co-production from Night Train Media, Lonesome Pine Productions, and Peer Pressure.

All four episodes of The Inheritance Season 1 debut on BritBox on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.