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Mark Gatiss has quietly built one of the most interesting careers in British television. From The League of Gentlemen to Sherlock to Game of Thrones, he rarely misses. His latest project, Bookish, premiered on U&Alibi in the UK on July 16, 2025. And, has since found a global audience through PBS in the US. Viewers outside supported regions can still watch Bookish Online. And that can be done by connecting to a secure VPN before loading their streaming platform of choice.
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Here are all streaming options, broken down by country.
UK: U&Alibi (free with Sky, Virgin Media, or NOW from £6.99/month)
US: PBS / PBS app (FREE with a free PBS account)
Australia: Max from $11.99/month
Canada / Worldwide: Use a VPN to access your home platform
Bookish is a six-episode British crime drama created by, written by, and starring Mark Gatiss. The show is set in 1946 London. Gatiss plays Gabriel Book, an eccentric antiquarian bookseller who uses his encyclopaedic literary knowledge to help Scotland Yard solve murders.
Each case runs across two episodes, giving the mysteries room to breathe. Book’s unconventional home life adds another thread. He lives in a lavender marriage with Trottie (Polly Walker). And, his growing attachment to Jack (Connor Finch), a newly hired ex-convict, develops quietly across the season.
The series was renewed for a second season before the first episode even aired. It has received strong critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its post-war atmosphere, intricate plotting, and wit.
Although set in London, it was filmed in Belgium using period-accurate sets.
Catch-up | The Preview of ” Bookish” Season 1
Bookish airs on U&Alibi, available through Sky TV, Virgin Media, Sky Go, and Virgin TV Go. All six episodes landed on demand on July 16, 2025, via Sky Box Sets and NOW.
NOW’s Entertainment Membership starts from £6.99/month. That covers U&Alibi along with a range of other channels. Sky TV packages include U&Alibi as standard.
Travelling outside the UK? You can still watch UK TV abroad by connecting to a secure VPN. Just select a UK server before opening the NOW or Sky Go app.
Geo-blocking works by reading your IP address to determine your location. A VPN masks your real IP address and replaces it with one from your chosen country. That is the short version of what a VPN is: to hide your IP address.
To watch Bookish Online from anywhere, follow these steps:
US viewers have the clearest path here. Bookish premiered on PBS on January 11, 2026, airing Sundays from 10 to 11 p.m. ET through February 15. All six episodes are available to stream for free on PBS.org and the PBS app with a free PBS account. No paid subscription is required.
PBS Passport subscribers can binge the full series in one sitting. The show also streams via PBS Masterpiece on Prime Video.
The PBS app supports iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast.
Australian viewers can stream Bookish on Max, which launched its service in Australia in 2024. The series became available on the same date as the UK release, July 16, 2025.
Max pricing in Australia starts from $11.99/month. Higher tiers add 4K streaming, downloads, and extra device support. Existing Foxtel subscribers receive the Max Basic with Ads plan at no extra cost.
No official Canadian streaming home has been confirmed for Bookish as of March 2026. Rights have been sold across Scandinavia and Latin America, but Canada remains unconfirmed.
If you are travelling to Canada and want to keep watching, use one of the best VPNs in the US. (or a UK-based server) This ensures access to your existing PBS or NOW subscription from abroad.
No official broadcast partner has been confirmed for India, Pakistan, or most other global markets at the time of writing.
Hack:- Third-party platforms such as Dailymotion occasionally carry British series for free, though availability varies and quality is not guaranteed.
The most reliable option worldwide remains a regular VPN connected to a UK or US server. Just pair it with a NOW or PBS account.
Not every VPN holds up against streaming platforms. These are some of the most secure VPN providers that also perform consistently well for video:
NordVPN offers over 6,400 servers across 111 countries. Speeds are fast enough for HD and 4K. The service includes a strict no-logs policy and a built-in ad blocker. And, also, one of the more transparent privacy audit histories in the industry. It works reliably with both U&Aliibi (via NOW) and PBS.
ExpressVPN is the fastest option in most independent speed tests. Its Lightway protocol keeps streams stable on slower connections. Apps are clean and beginner-friendly. Pricing runs higher than competitors’, but the consistency justifies it for regular users.
Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription. One plan covers every device in your home. The CleanWeb feature blocks ads and trackers at the network level. For households with multiple viewers, Surfshark offers strong value relative to its price.
When choosing between them, prioritise verified no-logs policies, server count in the UK and US, and independent speed test results. Avoid VPNs with limited servers in either country, as these tend to struggle with geo-restriction detection over time.
All six episodes are currently available to stream in full in the UK (via NOW/Sky). And, also in the US (via PBS free).
| Actor | Role Portrayed | Character Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Gatiss | Gabriel Book | First, Gabriel Book runs an antiquarian bookshop in post-war London and uses his deep literary knowledge to solve crimes. Consequently, the police frequently seek his help because he analyzes clues like an analogue computer. |
| Polly Walker | Trottie Book | Meanwhile, Trottie Book supports Gabriel as both his wife and closest confidante. Although they share a lavender marriage, she actively protects him and cleverly assists in solving difficult mysteries. |
| Connor Finch | Jack Blunt | Next, Jack Blunt arrives after leaving prison and begins working in the bookshop. Gradually, Gabriel mentors him and introduces him to detective work, while hidden motives behind his recruitment slowly emerge. |
| Buket Kömür | Nora Yazici | At the same time, Nora Yazici dreams of becoming a crime novelist. Therefore, she observes mysteries closely while helping at her uncle’s Turkish restaurant and gathering inspiration for her stories. |
| Elliot Levey | Inspector Bliss | Furthermore, Inspector Bliss leads official police investigations yet regularly consults Gabriel Book. As a result, he relies on Gabriel’s unusual insights whenever cases become too complex. |
| Blake Harrison | Sergeant Morris | Alongside him, Sergeant Morris supports Inspector Bliss during investigations. Meanwhile, he helps gather evidence and ensures that Gabriel’s unconventional theories receive serious consideration. |
| Daniel Mays | Eric Wellbeloved | Later, Eric Wellbeloved appears in one of the season’s intriguing cases. Consequently, his actions influence the unfolding mystery and challenge Gabriel’s investigative instincts. |
| Joely Richardson | Sandra Dare | Meanwhile, Sandra Dare enters the narrative as a striking presence connected to a particular investigation. As events progress, her role gradually reveals deeper secrets. |
| Paul McGann | Mr. Kind | Soon afterward, Mr. Kind becomes involved in one of Gabriel’s puzzling cases. Therefore, Gabriel studies his behaviour carefully while searching for the truth. |
| Tim McInnerny | “D” | Additionally, the mysterious figure known only as “D” adds intrigue to the investigation. Consequently, his presence deepens the complexity of the story. |
| Jacob Fortune-Lloyd | Stewart Howard | Similarly, Stewart Howard appears during another case and contributes to the unfolding drama. As a result, Gabriel must carefully interpret his involvement. |
| Jonas Nay | Felix | Eventually, Felix becomes important to Jack Blunt’s personal story. Consequently, revelations about him reshape Jack’s understanding of his past. |
| Rosie Cavaliero | Mrs. Dredge | Meanwhile, Mrs. Dredge plays a role in one of the investigations. Therefore, Gabriel studies her carefully while examining the surrounding clues. |
| Luke Norris | Jesse MacKendrick | Finally, Jesse MacKendrick enters the story as another figure tied to a particular mystery. Consequently, Gabriel evaluates his connections while moving closer to the truth. |
Although this table highlights the principal performers, Bookish Season 1 also features a wider ensemble cast. Their appearances enrich the mysteries and deepen the storytelling throughout the series.
Watch Now | ‘Bookish’ Trailer
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