Lovejoy books snapped up for updated TV adaptation

Lovejoy has been acquired for adaptation 33 years after it was first broadcast to be "updated for the 21st Century".

Nick Witkowski, director of Blue Sky Pictures acquired rights to the series from agent Lisa Moylett at CMM Literary Agency.

Lovejoy was a series of novels written by John Grant, under the pen name Jonathan Gash, which went on to be a UK TV comedy-crime-drama series, starring Ian McShane, spanning 71 episodes between 1986 and 1994. The first title in the series, The Judas Pair, was published in 1977 by HarperCollins while many of the novels went on to be republished by Penguin Random House imprint Arrow with TV-themed covers. 

Witkowski said: "Lovejoy, based on Jonathan Gash's classic character and books, was one of the most successful and popular long running series in British television history. We plan to update it for the 21st century for both the millions who followed the original and a whole new generation of viewers."

Moylett said: "We are very excited to be working with Nick Witkowski who has a strong and compelling vision for the series. Jonathan Gash, who has written 24 critically-acclaimed Lovejoy novels, is absolutely thrilled at the prospect."