BBC takes crime drama ‘Rebus’ in the UK, as Viaplay exits

Rebus (Source: BBC, Mark Mainz, Eleventh Hour Films)

The UK’s BBC has acquired crime drama Rebus, with the show’s original commissioner Viaplay preparing to exit the country.

The show, an adaptation of the Inspector Rebus novels by Ian Rankin, stars Richard Rankin (Outlander) and has been adapted by Gregory Burke (Six Four).

Eleventh Hour Films produced for Viaplay, with the series set to air on BBC Scotland, BBC One and BBC iPlayer this spring.

The six-part series is directed by Niall MacCormick and Fiona Walton, with Angela Murray producing. Rebus is distributed internationally by Viaplay Content Distribution.

The show was the first UK commission for Nordic streamer Viaplay, which launched in the country in 2022. The streamer confirmed it would close the service in the UK last year, in a bid to downsize operations and cut costs.