Acorn TV announces May 2020 lineup

Acorn TV has announced its upcoming lineup for the month of May, including the exclusive premieres of the BBC One romantic thriller Gold Digger starring Julia Ormond (Mad Men) and Ben Barnes (Westworld) and the Irish dark dramedy Dead Still starring Michael Smiley (Come to Daddy).

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The full list of May 2020 calendar is as follows:

Monday, May 4, 2020

Gold Digger (Acorn TV Exclusive, U.S. Premiere) – Episodes 1 and 2

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This BBC One twisty romantic thriller starring Emmy winner Ormond and Barnes tells the story of a 60-year-old woman falling in love with a 35-year-old man and the effect it has on her already dysfunctional family. Mother first, wife second, woman last, Julia Day (Ormond) has spent her whole life putting the needs of others before herself, but now she falls in love with Benjamin Greene (Barnes), a man 25 years her junior. The impact their unconventional relationship has on her family is explored and the secrets of their past are revealed — has Julia finally found the happiness she’s always deserved, or is Benjamin really only after her money like they think he is? The series also stars Alex Jennings (The Crown) as Julia’s ex-husband Ted, and Julia McKenzie (Agatha Christie’s Marple) as Ted’s mother, Hazel.

Porterhouse Blues

David Jason(Only Fools and Horses), Ian Richardson(House of Cards) and Griff Rhys Jones(Not the Nine O’Clock News) lead a distinguished cast in Malcolm Bradbury’s four-part adaptation of Tom Sharpe’s classic comic novel about the fictional Porterhouse college in Cambridge, noted for its rowing, ancient traditions, feasting, crusty fellows and the dismal academic standards of its students. When the headmaster dies, the government appoints an old graduate as his successor – the politician Sir Godber Evans (Richardson), who is determined to drag this bastion of privilege into the 20th century and announces a major break with six centuries of college tradition: Porterhouse will open its doors to scholars! Head Porter Skullion (Jason) is as stunned as the Fellows and students, but the new master, egged on by his wife (Barbara Jefford), is determined to sow seeds of change in the very foundations of Porterhouse. (4 EPS, 1987)

LAND GIRLS, Series 3

Follow the lives, loves and highs and lows of members of the Women’s Land Army who are working at the Hoxley Manor estate during World War II. They discover that their decision to serve their country will change their lives forever. The girls each have their own reasons for signing up – patriotic Joyce (Becci Gemmell, Home Time) wants to “do her bit,” argumentative Nancy (Summer Strallen, Hotel Babylon) is there under sufferance, sensible Annie (Christine Bottomley, Hope Springs) joined so that her younger sister Bea (Jo Woodcock, All The Small Things) could escape an abusive father and there’s the feisty Connie Carter (Seline Hizli, Deadwater Fell) In Series 3, Hoxley Manor is transferred into a military hospital and a new girl, Iris (Lou Broadbent, Switch) arrives. (5 EPS, 2011)

Monday, May 11, 2020

Gold Digger (Acorn TV Exclusive, U.S. Premiere) – Episodes 3 and 4

A Royal Tour of the 20th Century

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The British royal family has been at the center of the 20th century’s most iconic moments – two world wars, the end of empires, coronations, weddings, glittering tours, fashion and scandals – a century that saw the Windsors’ influence and participate in a wealth of defining historical moments, firmly making their mark on this important period of modern history. Through rarely-seen archival footage, viewers follow the official tours and state visits, discover the stories of far flung places, glimpse into the lives of those born of royal blood and the history of the destinations, and why it made them symbolic locations on the royal touring map. The events featured include Queen Elizabeth’s first tour of the Commonwealth in 1953/4, her 1995 visit to South Africa at the end of apartheid, as well as Princess Diana’s trip to Angola to raise awareness of landmines. (4 EPS, 2019)

Seachange, Series 3 (Exclusive U.S. and Canada Premiere)

This marks the final season of the award-winning 1990s Australian drama series about flawed people and unconventional relationships, starring Sigrid Thornton (Paradise), Kerry Armstrong (Lantana) and John Howard (Mad Max: Fury Road), Series 3 sees Pearl Bay saying farewell to the old and welcome to the new. The promise of fresh beginnings captures the coastal town, as the past gives way to the future. Strengthened by recent battles, the community is more united than ever, ready to face any challenges that lie ahead. For Laura Gibson (Thornton), there’s her desire for husband Max (William McInnes)and the realization that they should remain just friends because they are opposites. Bob Jelly (Howard) faces a threat to his status and Heather Jelly’s (Armstrong) increasing self-confidence, and Karen Miller (Kate Atkinson) returns from abroad a wiser woman. Seasons 1 and 2 also streaming. (13 EPS, 2000)

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Monday, May 18, 2020

Dead Still (Acorn TV Original Series, Commissioned) – Episodes 1 and 2

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Set in 1880s Ireland, this six-episode dark comic murder mystery drama follows the strange adventures of Dublin’s most famed memorial photographers, Brock Blennerhasset (Michael Smiley, Luther) and Conall Molloy(Kerr Logan, Game of Thrones), who take professional portraits of the dead during the Victorian era of “postmortem photography.” Meanwhile, tenacious detective Frederick Regan (Aidan O’Hare, Jackie) investigates a series of local murders and eyes possible disturbing connections between them and Brock. This series also stars Eileen O’Higgins (Brooklyn) as Brock’s estranged, imaginative niece, Nancy Vickers.

Episode Descriptions:

Episode 1 – In Victorian-era Ireland, portrait photographer Brock Blennerhasset has made a successful career out of commemorating the recently deceased. When one of his photographic plates goes missing— putting his reputation on the line—Blennerhasset hires eager gravedigger Conall Molloy to help find it.

Episode 2 – Blennerhasset and Molloy photograph a young boy who drowned, but when a heavy storm descends upon the area, it forces them to stay at a house that may be haunted. Desiring a more exciting social life, Blennerhasset’s niece, Nancy, attends a party, though her brother, Henry, puts a damper on the evening.

Gold Digger (Acorn TV Exclusive, U.S. Premiere) – Episodes 5 and 6 (Series finale)

Monday, May 25, 2020

Dead Still (Acorn TV Original Series, Commissioned) – Episode 3

Episode 3 – When Blennerhasset discovers that some of his camera equipment has gone missing, he and Nancy travel to an unsavory part of Dublin to track down Molloy, who has also disappeared. Meanwhile, Detective Regan follows up on a lead regarding the illicit photos circulating in Dublin’s black market.

Mount Pleasant, Series 5 (Exclusive U.S. Premiere)-First time available in U.S.

This long-running heartwarming UK dramedy hit, which originally aired on Sky, depicts the lives of a tightly knit family in suburban Manchester, including their everyday struggles. Starring Sally Lindsay (Coronation Street), Daniel Ryan (Black Sea), Ainsley Howard (The Village), and Neil Fitzmaurice (Going Off Big Time). Seasons 1-4 also streaming. (8 EPS, 2015)

Treasure Houses of Britain

Hosted by Selina Scott, this documentary series offers rare access to five of Britain’s finest stately homes – Burghley House, Chatsworth, Blenheim Palace, Holkham Hall and Boughton House, and marks the first time they were filmed in 3D. These episodes shed light on these well-loved, spectacular buildings, as well as their treasures that tell human stories: from the tapestries the First Duke of Marlborough commissioned to celebrate his triumph at the Battle of Blenheim, to the Italian pietra dura cabinet which the Medici gave to the owners of Burghley – the greatest Elizabethan house in England. (5 EPS, 2011)