AMC Networks, Sid Gentle Films Ltd and UKTV’s Alibi today announced that Henry Lloyd-Hughes (The Irregulars, Killing Eve) and Thalissa Teixeira (Too Close, Trigonometry) will join Lucy Hale (The Hating Game, Pretty Little Liars), in their new modern-day Faustian thriller Ragdoll, based on the novel by Daniel Cole. The series will begin production today in London, and Freddy Syborn (Ms Marvel, Bad Education) is spearheading the adaptation of the six-part, darkly witted thriller. Ragdoll will be directed by Toby MacDonald (Old Boys, The Duchess) and Niall MacCormick (The Victim, The Song of Lunch).

Lloyd-Hughes will play newly reinstated DS Nathan Rose, and Teixeira will play DI Emily Baxter, his boss and best friend. As previously announced, Hale will play DC Lake Edmunds, the unit’s new recruit.

Assigned to a shocking new case, nicknamed The Ragdoll, are DS Rose, DI Baxter and DC Edmunds. The ‘Ragdoll Killer’ taunts the police by sending them a list of his next victims, with Rose’s name at the very end. And with those victims to protect, our heroes soon come under intense public scrutiny. A gruesomely imaginative serial killer thriller, Ragdoll also captures the fascinating but flawed friends struggling with the consequences of institutionalisation and trauma.

Henry Lloyd-Hughes can currently be seen starring in Netflix’s The Irregulars, in which he plays a very different imagining of the iconic character ‘Sherlock Holmes.’ Prior to this, he became a familiar face across the world in season two of Killing Eve as ‘Aaron Peel,’ a sociopathic, crypto tech millionaire, and via his role in BBC One’s six-part television adaptation of Les Misérables alongside Josh O’Connor, Lily Collins, Dominic West and Olivia Colman. Other notable credits include: Julian Fellow’s The English Game on Netflix, BBC One’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel The Pale Horse, Channel 4’s Indian Summers, iconic E4/C4 comedy television series The Inbetweeners and the subsequent feature adaptation and Joanna Hogg’s Unrelated with Tom Hiddleston, to name a few.

Thalissa Teixeira is known for television roles including Sky’s Two Weeks To Live, BBC’s Trigonometry and The Musketeers. She will soon star in ITV’s new psychological thriller Too Close, opposite Emily Watson and Denise Gough, and Channel 5’s Anne Boleyn opposite Jodie Turner-Smith. Thalissa’s stage credits include Women Beware Women, Othello, The Changeling (Shakespeare’s Globe), Yerma (Young Vic, Park Avenue Armory), Julie (National Theatre), The Night Watch (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Electra (Old Vic).

Lucy Hale first dominated the television screens in Freeform’s wildly popular series Pretty Little Liars, and has gone on to capture the hearts of big- and small- screen enthusiasts in projects such as Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island, the CW’s Katy Keene and Warner Bros.’ Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Her upcoming projects include Big Bold Brick opposite Andy Garcia, Megan Fox and Oscar Issac, Son Of The South from Executive Producer Spike Lee, The Hating Game, based off the best-selling book and Borrego in which she stars and serves as executive producer.

“We’re thrilled to have Lucy, Thalissa and Henry on board as three ideal leads to bring Ragdoll to life,” said Dan McDermott, President of Original Programming for AMC Networks and Co-Head of AMC Studios. “We’re excited to begin filming with our partners at Sid Gentle Films and to watch these three talented actors play off each other through these darkly intriguing and intricately drawn characters.”

Executive producer Sally Woodward Gentle says, “It is so exciting to be working with the wonderfully creative Henry again and a dream to have the incredibly talented Thalissa as one of our wonderful leads. With the addition of the charismatic Lucy, we have a really magical trio bringing this adaptation to life.”

Ragdoll was commissioned for AMC by Dan McDermott and Kristin Jones and has been commissioned for Alibi by Philippa Collie Cousins, Commissioning Editor, Drama, with Head of Scripted Pete Thornton and ordered by Emma Ayech, Channel Director for Alibi. At UKTV Richard Watsham is the Director of Commissioning and Adrian Wills is Genre General Manager for Drama and Lifestyle. The book deal was brokered by Luke Speed at Curtis Brown Group.

Ragdoll will be executive produced by Sally Woodward Gentle and Lee Morris for Sid Gentle Films Ltd, one of BBC Studios invested indie production companies. Dan McDermott and Kristin Jones will take the lead for AMC and Philippa Collie Cousins, Commissioning Editor, Drama for UKTV will be executive producer for Alibi. Freddy Syborn is lead writer and executive producer and Lizzie Rusbridger (Save Me, Our Girl) will produce. BBC Studios is distributing the series internationally.

Lloyd-Hughes is represented by 42 and Mosaic; Teixeira is represented by Independent Talent Group, Authentic Talent and Luber Roklin Entertainment; Hale is represented by ICM and Reel Talent.

About SID GENTLE FILMS LTD.

Sid Gentle Films Ltd. was founded by Sally Woodward Gentle in 2013 along with Lee Morris and Henrietta Colvin with a focus to develop and produce innovative, original and ambitious television drama and feature films. Credits to date include: BAFTA nominated THE DURRELLS for ITV and Masterpiece, the highly acclaimed SS-GB for the BBC, Neil Gaiman’s LIKELY STORIES for Sky, the BAFTA and Peabody winning and Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominated KILLING EVE for BBC AMERICA, the recently announced television adaptation of GINGER SNAPS and EXTRAORDINARY for Disney+.

About AMC

AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Drama Series with Mad Men in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before Breaking Bad won it in 2013 and 2014. The network’s series The Walking Dead is the highest-rated series in cable history. AMC’s current original drama series are Better Call Saul, Fear the Walking Dead, Soulmates, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond and forthcoming 61st Street, Kevin Can F Himself and Pantheon. AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like Talking Dead, AMC Visionaries and Ride with Norman Reedus. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.

About BBC Studios

BBC Studios in 2018 took a 51% stake in British scripted drama and feature film company Sid Gentle Films Ltd. BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, its activities span content financing, development, production, sales, branded services, and ancillaries across both its own productions, and programmes and formats made by high-quality UK independents. Award-winning British programmes made by the business are internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, Doctor Who and Bluey. BBC Studios has offices in 22 markets globally, including ten production bases in the UK and production bases or partnerships in a further nine countries around the world. The company, which ordinarily makes around 2500 hours of content a year for both the BBC and third parties including Apple, Amazon and China Mobile, is a champion for British creativity around the world. It is also a committed partner for the UK’s independent sector through a mix of equity partnerships, content investment and international distribution for programme titles. To the BBC, BBC Studios contributes both cash dividends and funds for programme-making, supporting the licence fee and enhancing programmes for UK audiences.

About Alibi

Sky 132/826, Virgin 126/200, BT 312/382, TalkTalk 312, TV Player On demand on Sky, Virgin, BT and TalkTalk Alibi is the only TV channel dedicated to crime drama, investigating the best selection from the genre and premiering hit series from around the world such as Harrow, Evil, Briarpatch and Tommy. Alibi stepped into UKTV Original crime drama series with guaranteed thrills, twists and turns including hit series Traces, starring Molly Windsor and Martin Compston and We Hunt Together starring Eve Myles and Babou Ceesay. Now in its 14th series, Murdoch Mysteries has found a safe space on the channel while newcomers Hudson and Rex have become hugely popular additions. British crime dramas including Death in Paradise, Father Brown and Silent Witness give the viewers another chance to catch their favourite shows.

About UKTV

UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands – Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday – span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and scripted drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK’s most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world’s leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.