Jekyll and Hyde (TV series)
A fantasy drama set in 1930s London and Ceylon.
Jekyll and Hyde is a British television fantasy drama that aired on ITV between 25 October and 20 December 2015, running for ten episodes. The show is loosely adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella *Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde* and takes place in 1930s London and Ceylon. Its central character is Dr. Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the Victorian Dr. Henry Jekyll, who has inherited his grandfather’s split personality and violent alter ego. Creator Charlie Higson announced on Twitter on 5 January 2016 that ITV had decided not to order a second series.
The plot follows Dr. Robert Jekyll, who has just finished his medical studies and is working happily in the practice of his adoptive father, Dr. Najaran, in Sri Lanka. He receives a letter from England from lawyer Maxwell Utterson regarding an inheritance. While Robert travels to England, a gang from the Tenebrae organization, led by Captain Dance, murders the Najaran family; only their teenage son Ravi escapes. In London, Utterson explains that Robert’s grandfather left him property, including a house. Robert learns for the first time that his father Louis went missing when Robert was young. With Utterson and his assistant Hils, Robert searches for answers, discovering a hidden laboratory and people who know about his grandfather and Edward Hyde. He also meets two women, Lily Clark and Isabella Charming. The Tenebrae organization pursues Robert to obtain the Jekylls’ secret knowledge, while the secret service MI0 fights monsters and supernatural phenomena.
The cast includes Tom Bateman as Dr. Robert Jekyll/Hyde, Richard E. Grant as Sir Roger Bulstrode, Tom Rhys Harries as Mr Sackler, Enzo Cilenti as Captain Dance, Michael Karim as Ravi Najaran, Ace Bhatti as Dr. Vishal Najaran, Lolita Chakrabarti as Gurinder Najaran, Natalie Gumede as Isabella Charming, Stephanie Hyam as Lily Clarke Carew, Christian McKay as Maxwell Utterson, Ruby Bentall as Hilary Barnstaple, Donald Sumpter as Garson, Sinéad Cusack as Maggie Kendall/Hope, Wallis Day as Olalla Jekyll/Hyde, Amelia Bullmore as Renata Jezequiel, Natasha O’Keeffe as Fedora, Tony Way as Cyclops Silas Parnell, Dee Tails as The Harbinger, Phil McKee as Mr Hannigan, Mark Bonnar as Lord Protheroe, and David Bark-Jones and Thomas Coombes as Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Edward Hyde.
Production was based at 3 Mills Studios, with filming in Kent.
- Field
- Television drama
- Nationality
- British
- Known for
- Loosely adapting Stevenson's novella; set in 1930s; cancelled after one series
- Creator
- Charlie Higson
- Network
- ITV
- Episodes
- 10
- Original run
- 25 October to 20 December 2015
Lore & Background
The series centers on Dr. Robert Jekyll, a young doctor working in Sri Lanka with his adoptive father Dr. Najaran. After receiving a letter from lawyer Maxwell Utterson about an inheritance, Robert travels to London, where he learns about his grandfather's hidden laboratory and the dangerous Tenebrae organization, which seeks the Jekylls' secret knowledge. Robert encounters two women, Lily Clark and Isabella Charming, and discovers his own dual nature as he struggles with his inherited Hyde persona.
The cast includes Tom Bateman as Dr. Robert Jekyll/Hyde, Richard E. Grant as Sir Roger Bulstrode, and Christian McKay as Maxwell Utterson. The series was filmed at 3 Mills Studios and on location in Kent, including Rochester High Street and the Historic Dockyard Chatham. The opening episode attracted 459 complaints to Ofcom regarding violence at a 6.30pm timeslot, leading to a breach ruling. Episode 4 was delayed after the November 2015 Paris attacks.
Reader's Guide
Jekyll and Hyde is significant as a modern television adaptation that reimagines Stevenson's classic story in a 1930s setting, introducing a new generation of the Jekyll family. Its legacy is marked by controversy over its violent content in a family-friendly timeslot, which led to an Ofcom investigation and a breach of the Broadcasting Code. The series also faced poor and decreasing viewing figures, unfavourable comparisons to Doctor Who, and public backlash, contributing to ITV's decision not to renew it. Despite cancellation, creator Charlie Higson outlined planned storylines for a second series on Twitter in July 2016, including Robert finding his father and returning to Sri Lanka. The series remains a notable example of a high-profile British fantasy drama that failed to secure a second season due to scheduling and content issues.
Did You Know?
- The opening episode received 459 complaints to Ofcom about violence at a 6.30pm timeslot, leading to a breach of the Broadcasting Code.
- Episode 4 was delayed for a week after the November 2015 Paris attacks due to sensitive subject matter.
- Creator Charlie Higson revealed planned series 2 storylines on Twitter on 8 July 2016, including Robert finding his father and returning to Sri Lanka.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Jekyll and Hyde (TV series)?
Charlie Higson wrote and created the ten-episode fantasy drama, which aired on ITV from late October through December 2015.
What is Jekyll and Hyde (TV series) based on?
The show is a loose television reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, transplanted into a new era and expanded with original storylines.
Where and when is Jekyll and Hyde (TV series) set?
The drama unfolds in the 1930s, with its narrative moving between London and Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka).
Why was Jekyll and Hyde (TV series) cancelled?
ITV opted not to commission a second series, a decision creator Charlie Higson confirmed publicly on Twitter in early January 2016, leaving the show at a single ten-episode run.
Who is the main character in Jekyll and Hyde (TV series)?
The story centres on Dr. Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the original Victorian Dr. Henry Jekyll, who has inherited his grandfather's violent alter ego and must contend with the split personality in 1930s society.
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