Photographer: Steve Brown. Designer: Mark Jones. Copyright GE.
ITV has cancelled its Jekyll and Hyde TV show, after just one season of ten episodes, leaving fans with no in-story closure. Today, creator Charlie Higson made the cancellation public on Twitter. Thus far, ITV has not commented publicly, on the status of Jekyll and Hyde.
Set in London, this 1930s period drama stars Tom Bateman as the grandson of the original Dr. Jekyll, as he tries to understand the awful legacy inherited from his grandfather. The cast also includes Donald Sumpter, Stephanie Hyam, Tom Rhys Harries, Natalie Gumede, Michael Karim, Richard E. Grant, Phil McKee, and Oliver Gilbert.
Here are some of Higson’s tweets regarding the cancellation of Jekyll and Hyde:
Sad day today as ITV announce they don’t want any more #JekyllandHyde Ah well, I tried. It was a grand adventure while it lasted.
— charlie higson (@monstroso) January 5, 2016
We had some great stories lined up for series 2 #JekyllandHyde
— charlie higson (@monstroso) January 5, 2016
Thanks for all the messages of support #JekyllandHyde I’m moving on to other things.
— charlie higson (@monstroso) January 5, 2016
if you want to watch and keep #JekyllandHyde for ever now you can. in glorious 5.1 sound https://t.co/VLKXJcBIZw
— charlie higson (@monstroso) January 5, 2016
When a fan expressed dismay, complaining the series did not get a proper ending, Higson provided grim, instant closure.
@sil_martinz well… they’re all dead.
— charlie higson (@monstroso) January 5, 2016
Another tweet from Higson strikes the bell we are always ringing, here — ratings:
@stuheritage You can’t argue with the figures. TX for your message, though
— charlie higson (@monstroso) January 5, 2016
Broadcast reports the production team has been told there will be no second series (season):
Broadcast understands that the production team on the 10-part ITV Studios show have been told that there will be no second series, despite some pre-production work being done in preperation [sic] for a recommission.
Charlie Higson’s reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic story made an explosive start in October, attracting 4.3m (18.9%) viewers and a blaze of publicity.
The first episode generated more than 800 complaints and a flurry of headlines for depicting violence and potentially disturbing scenes ahead of the 9pm watershed.
The programme remains under investigation from Ofcom and the media regulator is expected to make a ruling early this year.
But it appears that interest in the show waned and its consolidated ratings decreased to a low of 1.8m (7.6%) for its final episode on 27 December. Overall, Jekyll and Hyde averaged 2.6m (10.8%) viewers.
What do you think? Did you like the Jekyll and Hyde TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled, or could the ratings problem have been fixed with a scheduling change? Would you have watched a second season?
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