"My favorite, everyone's favorite" Mark Gatiss talks about his inspirations behind creating Bookish

Mark Gatiss had quite a lot of inspiration behind creating Bookish and among all that one name stands out among the others, thanks to her contribution to the world of detective fiction. In an interview with ScreenRant, Gatiss spoke about what he was inspired by while creating Bookish, and the creator named Agatha Christie as one of the major influences behind the work.

Speaking to the outlet, Gatiss said,

"I'm an avid fan and reader of all of them, really, all the Golden Age ones and lots of new ones too, really. But Christie is obviously predominant still, and there's a reason. I always quote this, and you can quote it again. Billy Wilder was asked, when he made the film Witness for the Prosecution, a journalist dared to say, 'Why are you wasting your time with Agatha Christie?' And Wilder sort of figuratively grabbed him by the throat and said, 'Listen, my friend, Agatha Christie's characters, her dialogue I could write in an afternoon, but her plots are like f**king ball bearings.' And it's so true. My God, idea after idea, after idea, after idea, and that's the most amazing thing."

He then went on to compare the author's work with other peers of the time, while also calling Sherlock Holmes his "first great love" as he added,

"There are other books, particularly Dorothy L. Sayers, I think, who wrote Lord Peter Whimsy, rather beautiful books, much more like literature, but they don't survive because the plots just aren't as good...Christie remains my favorite, everyone's favorite. But I've got loads, obviously, I'm a big fan of locked room mysteries...And obviously an awful lot from Sherlock Holmes because he's my first great love."

More details about Bookish

Created, written by and starring Mark Gatiss, Bookish is an underrated murder mystery that absolutely deserves a spot on your watch list. The six-part show is set in post-war London and is old fashioned and daring in the best way possible.

The story unfolds in 1946, where Gabriel Book runs a dusty antiquarian bookshop and happens to have a side talent for solving murders. He is brilliant, sharp-tongued, deeply observant, and just unconventional enough to irritate the police while making himself indispensable to them. His vast knowledge of literature and history becomes his secret weapon, allowing him to spot patterns and truths others miss.

The emotional weight of the show comes from it's storytelling. Gabriel's marriage to his wife is a lavender marriage and their relationship simmers beneath the mysteries Gabriel deals with. Across six episodes and three cases, the show is layered with secrets, red herrings and moral tension.

All set to premiere in the U.S. on PBS in January 2026, Bookish is a crime drama for people who love stories, secrets, and the quiet power of words.

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Edited by Nibir Konwar