BritBox Developing 'A Taste for Murder' With Phyllis Logan

Hotel Portofino was about halfway through Season 3 in the summer of 2024 when Eagle Eye Drama's Jo McGrath, the studio behind the series, revealed there were plans for a second series set in Italy. As part of the public-facing Eagle Eye team along with Walter Iuzzolino, the two were drawn to the region. "Walter is Italian, I love Italy... We are currently writing another crime procedural set in Italy. We can't announce that yet, but we look forward to it." Six months on, that series, A Taste for Murder, has finally been announced and will star a PBS favorite, Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan.

Though the title sounds straight out of the Agatha Christie catalog, the series is an entirely original show created and written by Matt Baker, the creator behind Hotel Portofino, who also adapted both Patience and Professor T from the Walter Presents series Astrid and Professor T. Set in Capri, A Taste for Murder features "classic Italian cuisine as the main ingredient to each episode’s central murder mystery," which means it gears toward multiple audiences: cozy crime buffs, those who love staring at Italian landscapes, and foodies.

The series was scooped up by BritBox, currently fighting hard to make real inroads in the U.S. and international entertainment spaces. (This absolutely would have been a PBS series a decade ago.) BritBox head Robert Schildhouse said, “A Taste for Murder is more than the standard crime procedural—Matt Baker and Eagle Eye Drama have crafted an innovative show that combines mystery, culture, and heart in a way that feels fresh and authentic. We’re proud to commission this series and can’t wait for BritBox audiences to sink their teeth into the clever writing, beautiful backdrops, and delectable recipes."

Here's the series official logline:

Set amidst the steep cliffs and fast tides of Capri, A Taste for Murder features classic Italian cuisine as the main ingredient to each episode’s central murder mystery, revealing the power of food to foster connection, community, and healing after devastating loss.

Logan stars as Elena Da Vinale, the witty, fiercely loyal, loving matriarch and front-of-house manager of the family restaurant. Warren Brown (The Responder) plays her son-in-law, DCI Joe Mottram. After his wife’s untimely death, Mottram leaves his job with the London Metropolitan police and takes his daughter to Capri to stay with her mother’s family, only to find himself immersed in local murder cases on the island. Beau Gadsdon (The Crown) rounds out the family trio as Joe’s daughter, the teenage Angelica.

The series also features Italian actor Cristiana Dell’Anna (Trust) as Inspector Lara Sarrancino, the local detective who winds up partnering with DCI Mottram on the series’ case-of-the-weeks. The upporting cast includes Urbano Barberini (Casino Royale) as Elena’s husband and legendary local chef, Gennaro Da Vinale; Alessandro Fella (Paradise) as Elena’s nephew, Luca Da Vinale; Gaia Scodellaro (Signora Volpe) as kitchen help Daria, and Alessandro Bedetti (Those About to Die) as neighborhood teenager Daniele.

Baker penned the series’ six episodes, with director Jon Jones helming all installments and Megan Ott producing. (Jones helmed multiple episodes of Hotel Portofino.) McGrath and Iuzzolino executive produce with the recently hired Carolina Giammetta for Eagle Eye Drama; Robert Schildhouse, Stephen Nye, and Jess O’Riordan executive produce for BritBox.

Filming is now underway for A Taste for Murder, which is expected to debut on BritBox towards the end of 2025 or early 2026.