Houdini & Doyle
A drama series about Houdini and Doyle's paranormal investigations.
Houdini & Doyle is a television drama series loosely inspired by the real-life friendship between Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The show ran for a single season of ten episodes. Its first episode was written by co-creators David Hoselton and David Titcher, and it aired on ITV in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 13 March 2016. Fox cancelled the series on 3 August 2016 after one season.
The story is set in 1901 London, shortly after the publication of Doyle's *The Great Boer War*. Houdini, a cynical skeptic and atheist, clashes with Doyle, a believer in the paranormal and supernatural. The pair investigate several mysterious deaths, debating whether the causes are natural or supernatural. They often place bets on the outcome, much to the embarrassment of their police liaison, Constable Adelaide Stratton.
The main cast includes Michael Weston as Harry Houdini, Stephen Mangan as Arthur Conan Doyle, Rebecca Liddiard as Adelaide Stratton, Adam Nagaitis as George Gudgett, and Tim McInnerny as Horace Merring. Recurring roles feature Emily Carey as Mary Conan Doyle, Noah Jupe as Kingsley Conan Doyle, and Diana Quick as Cecelia Weiss. Guest stars include Louise Delamere as Touie Doyle, Laura Fraser as Lydia Belworth, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Elias Downey, Blake Harrison as Lyman Biggs, Edward Akrout as Henry, Janine Duvitski as Martha, James Fleet as Dr. Pilsen, Ewen Bremner and Mark Caven as Sherlock Holmes, Owen Teale as Professor Havensling, Peter Outerbridge as Thomas Edison, Paul Ritter as Bram Stoker, Brandon Oakes as Walt, and Emily Hampshire as Madame Korzha.
The series was a treaty co-production between Big Talk Productions in the UK and Shaftesbury Films in Canada, in association with Sony Pictures Television in the US, where executive producer David Shore's Shore Z Productions is based. Filming took place in two stages at The Space Project in Manchester, with Liverpool Town Hall and Water Street used for some exterior scenes.
In the UK, the series premiered on ITV on 13 March 2016. It debuted on Global in Canada and Fox in the United States on 2 May 2016. It aired on RTÉ in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on 18 May 2016, and on Tokyo MX in Tokyo, Japan on 9 July 2019.
- network
- Fox (US), ITV (UK), Global (Canada)
Lore & Background
The series opens in 1901 London, shortly after the publication of Doyle's The Great Boer War. Harry Houdini is portrayed as a cynical skeptic and atheist, while Arthur Conan Doyle is a believer in the paranormal and supernatural. Together, they investigate several mysterious deaths, debating whether the causes are natural or supernatural, often betting on the outcome, to the embarrassment of their police liaison, Constable Adelaide Stratton. The pilot episode was written by co-creators David Hoselton and David Titcher. The main cast includes Michael Weston as Houdini, Stephen Mangan as Doyle, Rebecca Liddiard as Stratton, Adam Nagaitis as George Gudgett, and Tim McInnerny as Horace Merring. Recurring and guest actors include Emily Carey, Noah Jupe, Diana Quick, Louise Delamere, Laura Fraser, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Blake Harrison, Edward Akrout, Janine Duvitski, James Fleet, Ewen Bremner and Mark Caven as Sherlock Holmes, Owen Teale, Peter Outerbridge as Thomas Edison, Paul Ritter as Bram Stoker, Brandon Oakes, and Emily Hampshire as Madame Korzha.
Reader's Guide
Houdini & Doyle represents a fictionalized exploration of the historical friendship between two famous figures: the escape artist and skeptic Harry Houdini, and the author and spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The series uses their real-life philosophical differences as a dramatic engine, setting investigations in 1901 London. Though only one season was produced, the show highlights the enduring public fascination with the tension between rationalism and belief in the supernatural. Its cancellation after 10 episodes, announced on 3 August 2016, ended the series' run on Fox, ITV, and Global. The production was a treaty co-production between Big Talk Productions (UK), Shaftesbury Films (Canada), and Sony Pictures Television (US), with filming in Manchester and Liverpool. The series later aired on Tokyo MX in Japan in July 2019, indicating some international interest beyond its initial broadcast markets.
Did You Know?
- The pilot episode was written by co-creators David Hoselton and David Titcher.
- The series was cancelled by Fox on 3 August 2016 after one season.
- Ewen Bremner and Mark Caven both portrayed Sherlock Holmes as guest characters.
- The series aired on Tokyo MX in Tokyo, Japan on 9 July 2019.
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