BritBox takes 27 series of STV Productions’ iconic detective drama Taggart from DCD Rights

23 January 2019


Announced today, independent UK based distributor DCD Rights has signed a major deal with BritBox, the streaming service from BBC Studios and ITV, available in the U.S. and Canada. BritBox will be premiering all 27 series of the second longest running detective drama Taggart.

The deal, the first collaboration between DCD Rights and BritBox, will see all 110 episodes (60’-130’) of Taggart on BritBox. Owned by BBC Studios and ITV plc and offering a wide collection of hit British TV series and features, BritBox will launch Taggart in 2019 adding UK television’s most iconic crime drama

Nicky Davies Williams, CEO at DCD Rights, said, “I’m delighted to see BritBox securing every episode of this iconic series for audiences in the U.S. and Canada. Taggart paved the way for a new generation of detective drama – a genre which has gone on to become one of the most prevalent and successful across the world. Its edgy and sinister style, the complex, often menacing nature of the cases investigated, and the strong and unique lead characters are all key hallmarks of today’s most popular dramas, and ensures Taggart is as engaging and relevant now as it ever has been.”

Taggart is an iconic series that has appealed to viewers across the world for decades. The BritBox team is looking forward to being able to offer our U.S. and Canada subscribers the opportunity to relive their favorite episodes, or discover this iconic series for the very first time,” said Soumya Sriraman, President, BritBox. Many of our BritBox viewers are mystery fans, and Taggart is a brilliant addition to the BritBox crime- drama programming line-up.”

Produced by STV Productions for ITV, Taggart has sold to 148 territories in total around the world. The drama ran for 27 seasons, and is the longest-running British/European detective series and the second longest-running worldwide – surpassed only by Columbo.

The action-packed, hard-hitting crime drama evolved through the years to high acclaim and featured various lead detectives during its run. DCI Jim Taggart, played by Mark McManus first arrived on screens in 1983 as the tough Glaswegian detective, followed by James Macpherson as DCI Mike Jardine and then by an ensemble cast starring Bythe Duff, Alex Norton and John Michie.  Each detective brought their own unique style to the series which features a variety of murder cases set in and around Glasgow.