If you witnessed Sean Bean’s impeccable performance in the BBC’s recent crime drama, This City Is Ours, we’re here to tell you about another flawless performance that you may have missed the first-time round. Shardlake is the expertly cast period crime drama starring Sean Bean as a brilliantly ruthless Thomas Cromwell and, if you didn’t catch the whodunnit when it came to Disney+ last year, the good news is that it’s heading to ITV... very soon.
Based on the bestselling Tudor murder mystery novels by C.J. Sansom, the series stars Arthur Hughes as Matthew Shardlake, a 16th-century lawyer who is hired by Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean) to investigate a murder at a monastery. Described by critics as an "unmissable whodunnit" when it aired last year, it’s the sort of series that will very quickly turn into your new TV obsession.
Ahead of Shardlake’s arrival on ITV, here’s everything you need to know about the period crime drama, including the plot, cast and release date.
What is Shardlake about?
As we mentioned, the series, which was originally released on Disney+ in May 2024, is based on the bestselling Tudor murder mystery novels by C.J. Sansom. The four-part drama is set in 16th century England during the dissolution of the monasteries.
Arthur Hughes plays Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer with an acute sense of justice and one of the few honest men in a world beset with scheming and plots. Shardlake works for Thomas Cromwell, played by Sean Bean, the dangerous and all-powerful right-hand man to Henry VIII. Despite Shardlake’s unwavering loyalty to Cromwell and the Crown, his position in society is unfavoured due to his appearance, as a person living with scoliosis during the Tudor period, suffering the indignity of being abused as a "crookback" wherever he turns.
Shardlake’s sheltered life as a lawyer, however, is turned upside down when Cromwell instructs him to investigate the murder of one of his commissioners at a monastery in the remote town of Scarnsea. The commissioner was gathering evidence to close the monastery and it’s now imperative for Cromwell’s own political survival that Shardlake both solves the murder and closes the monastery.
He leaves Shardlake in no doubt, we should add, that failure is not an option. So, Cromwell insists that he’s accompanied by Jack Barak (his rather cocky assistant played by Anthony Boyle) to Scarnsea, where the duo are met with hostility, suspicion and paranoia by the monks who fear for their future and will seemingly stop at nothing to preserve their order.
Writer Stephen Butchard has described C.J. Sansom’s novels as "incredibly rich in story, character and history; full of intrigue, excitement, cruelty and compassion – and at the centre of it all is Matthew Shardlake, a hero like no other." He added: “Although these stories are set in Tudor England, the themes absolutely engage and resonate with today’s world. Hundreds of years may have past – but humankind and what makes us tick has changed little.”
Is there a trailer for Shardlake?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Shardlake below:
Who’s in the cast of Shardlake?
The cast of Shardlake includes:
- Arthur Hughes (Then Barbara Met Alan) plays Matthew Shardlake
- Sean Bean (This City is Ours) as Thomas Cromwell
- Anthony Boyle (Masters of the Air) as Jack Barak
- Babou Ceesay (Severance) as Abbot Fabian
- Paul Kaye (The Offering) as Brother Jerome
- Ruby Ashbourne Serkis as Alice (I, Jack Wright)
- Peter Firth (Spooks) as Norfolk
- Matthew Steer (Partners in Crime) as Goodhap
- Brian Vernel (Slow Horses) as Brother Mortimus
- Irfan Shamji (Industry) as Brother Guy
- David Pearse (The Gates) as Brother Edwig
- Miles Barrow (Marriage) as Brother Gabriel
- Mike Noble (This City is Ours) as Bugge
- Kimberley Nixon (Fresh Meat) as Joan
Is Shardlake any good?
Yes – it’s brilliantly atmospheric, the plot is enormously enjoyable and Sean Bean is utterly brilliant as the ruthless Thomas Cromwell. Critics have called it "a Tudor Slow Horses", "an unmissable whodunnit" and "eminently watchable". Sadly, a Disney spokesperson has confirmed that the drama won’t be returning for a second series and when you watch the series, we have a feeling you’ll be as baffled by the decision as we are.
How can I watch Shardlake?
The first episode of Shardlake will air on ITV at 9pm on Monday 9th June, with subsequent episodes released weekly.
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