BBC’s new “gripping mystery” with Coronation Street legend finally confirms its release date

The new BBC drama, Crookhaven, starring Julie Hesmondhalgh (known from Coronation Street) and Dougray Scott (from Vigil), will premiere very soon! A release date has been officially announced.

This eight-episode drama, suitable for families, is a mystery inspired by the popular children’s books of the same title, written by JJ Arcanjo. It’s being described as a captivating story and was made with support from Northern Ireland Screen.

At a hidden school for aspiring villains, students—nicknamed “Crooklings”—learn skills like forgery, lock-picking, and trickery. But they aren’t learning to be bad for the sake of it; they’re training to fix the world’s problems by cleverly bending the rules.

The first episode premieres on BBC One this Sunday, March 22nd, at 3:05pm, with the second episode airing right after at 3:50pm. All episodes will also be available on BBC iPlayer starting at the same time.

The story follows eight diverse young students from around the world as they compete for the coveted Crooked Cup. Throughout the competition, they must also confront a frightening and mysterious foe known only as The Nameless.

The show centers around Gabriel, a remarkably skilled pickpocket played by Lucas Leach, and his ongoing conflict with Penelope, the headmaster’s daughter, played by Carmel Laniado. Their rivalry forms a key part of the story.

Gabriel, a 13-year-old who’s always relied on stealing to get by, avoids jail time when he’s caught. Instead of arresting him, the school’s enigmatic headmaster, Caspian Lockett, offers him a place at the school.

Scott will play the character of Lockett, and Hesmondhalgh will be Grandma Sue. The cast also includes Keith Allen, known from Trainspotting and Bodies, and Claire Forlani, who has appeared in Industry and Domina.

The student body at Crookhaven will feature rising stars like Amari Bacchus (known for Adolescence), Leila Khan (from Heartstopper), and Charlie Mann (who appeared in Lazarus).

Crookhaven is coming BBC One and iPlayer at 3:05pm and 3:50pm on Sunday 22 March.

Don’t miss out on Crookhaven! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

I’m a big fan of Phoebe Kowhai Barnes’ work! She’s a freelance writer now, covering all things pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a senior editor at The Tab, running their local team. She’s clearly got a strong background in storytelling – she studied English Literature at the University of Nottingham, which makes perfect sense!

Visit us on Twitter

2026-03-11 21:04

Authors

Read More