Jekyll and Hyde is a British fantasy TV drama consisting of 10 episodes. It aired on ITV in the United Kingdom from 25 October to 27 December 2015. On 5 January 2016 the creator Charlie Higson announced via his Twitter feed that ITV had declined a second series. Based loosely on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, it creates the character of Dr. Robert Jekyll, a grandson of the Victorian Dr. Henry Jekyll, who has inherited his grandfather's split personality and violent alter-ego. The series takes place in 1930s London and Ceylon.
Cast
Tom Bateman Dr. Robert Jekyll/Hyde, the grandson of the Victorian Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, the son of Louis Jekyll/Hyde and the twin brother of Olalla Jekyll/Hyde. As with most "modern" Jekyll-and-Hydes, in his Hyde state he possesses superhuman strength, speed and an accelerated healing factor.
Richard E. Grant Sir Roger Bulstrode, a British Intelligence officer studying supernatural phenomena
Tom Rhys Harries Mr Sackler, a sniper working for Sir Roger Bulstrode
Enzo Cilenti Captain Dance, senior officer for monster organisation, the Tenebrae. His exact nature is unclear, but he is notably stronger than the average human, with most of his internal organs visible through his chest; he can survive being shot twice in the heart with a fatal toxin, although he required external aid to stay alive.
Michael Karim Ravi Najaran, Vishal and Gurinder's son and Robert's foster-brother
Ace Bhatti Dr. Vishal Najaran, Gurinder's husband, Ravi's father and Robert Jekyll's foster-father in Ceylon. He is killed by the forces of Tenebrae while they try to learn more about Robert.
Lolita Chakrabarti Gurinder Najaran, Vishal's wife, Ravi's mother and Robert Jekyll's foster-mother in Ceylon. She is killed by the forces of Tenebrae while they try to learn more about Robert.
Natalie Gumede Isabella "Bella" Charming, the owner of an East End nightclub the Empire, who becomes the love interest of Robert's Hyde persona. She knows more than she originally seems to and provides Robert with information regarding Tenebrae.
Stephanie Hyam Lily Clarke Carew, a former biochemistry student of Cambridge taking care of her invalid mother who helps Robert study the medical side of his transformation and becomes his love interest. She is later revealed to be a spy working for Sir Roger Bulstrode, her real name is Lily Carew and she is the granddaughter of the murdered Sir Danvers Carew.
Christian McKay Maxwell Utterson, Robert's estate lawyer whose father, Gabriel Utterson, worked for Dr. Henry Jekyll. While assisting Robert in investigating another branch of the Jekyll family tree, he dies when he is wounded during a fight in episode 5.
Ruby Bentall Hilary "Hils" Barnstaple, Maxwell's no-nonsense jovial assistant who aces at both her paper work and fighting.
Donald Sumpter Garson, once Henry Jekyll's assistant/footman, now the bartender of the Empire nightclub, who knows the true nature of the connection between Jekyll and Hyde. Despite his age and knowledge of Hyde, he retains a certain affection for his former master that has been passed on to Robert, with Robert appreciating Garson's insight and knowledge into his grandfather's work.
Sinéad Cusack Maggie Hope. Lover of Victorian Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, mother of Louis Jekyll/Hyde and grandmother of Dr. Robert Jekyll/Hyde and Olalla Jekyll/Hyde.
Wallis Day Olalla Jekyll/Hyde, granddaughter of the Victorian Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, daughter of Louis Jekyll/Hyde and twin sister of Dr. Robert Jekyll/Hyde.
Amelia Bullmore Renata Jezequiel, a distant relative of Dr. Robert Jekyll/Hyde and the rest of the Jekyll family.
Natasha O'Keeffe Fedora, member of Tenebrae and love interest of Dance. After Dance was shot, Fedora tried every way to revive him using Moroii to help Dance regenerate and in Episode 10, she successfully used the power of the Incubus to revive Dance.
Tony Way Cyclops Silas Parnell, member of Tenebrae, minion of Dance and leader of a gang of one-eyed thugs. He becomes a host for the Seeing Toad.
Dee Tails The Harbinger, a creature which appeared in the episodes The Harbinger, The Cutter, The Heart of Lord Trash and Mr Hyde.
Phil McKee Mr Hannigan, an MIO agent working for Sir Roger Bulstrode.
Mark Bonnar Lord Protheroe, a power hungry corrupted head of Daily Truth, he harbours Fedora and the "killed" Dance.
David Bark-Jones and Thomas Coombes Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, Robert Jekyll/Hyde and Olalla Jekyll's grandfather and the father of Louis Jekyll/Hyde. Henry Jekyll and his assistant/footman, Garson made the potion that allows Jekyll turn into Edward Hyde. Dr. Jekyll falls in love with the Empire music hall singer Maggie Kendall. As himself Henry can only ruin his reputation. But as Edward Hyde, he can do as he pleases. He set Maggie a flat in Soho and he got what he wanted. Shortly afterwards, with no way to cure himself or reproduce the potion Dr. Jekyll made, he poisoned himself in order to kill Edward Hyde.
Production
The series was based at 3 Mills Studios and also filmed in Kent – RochesterHigh Street doubles as the exterior of the Empire music hall and The Guildhall Museum features as the hotel where Dr. Jekyll first lodges when arriving in England. The Historic Dockyard Chatham was used as location for the scenes used for Gravesend Docks, Tenebrae offices and factory and various areas of the site feature as London Streets and markets. Elmley Nature Reserve features in episode three as the setting for Maggie's country house and the Fort Amherst tunnels are used in episodes 9 and 10 where Jekyll finds out about the powers of The Incubus.
Episodes
Broadcast
In Canada, it started airing on 11 January 2016 on CBC.
Controversies
The opening episode attracted 459 complaints to the UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom in regard to the level of violence contained within a programme shown at 6.30pm. Ofcom subsequently announced that it had launched an investigation., which ultimately ruled that the show had breached the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, as children were not "protected from unsuitable material by appropriate scheduling." After the November 2015 Paris attacks, episode 4 was delayed for a week as it was felt that the subject matter would be upsetting with the fresh memories of the experience.
Cancellation
On 5 January 2016, ITV confirmed that it would not be renewing Jekyll and Hyde for a second series. Reasons included poor and decreasing viewing figures, unfavourable comparisons to Doctor Who and public backlash following "hundreds of complaints" regarding the appropriateness of the content for a teatime family show.
Unmade second series
On 8 July 2016, Higson explained in a tweets thread what would have happened in Series 2: "We had lots of great stories already written for series 2 of Jekyll & Hyde. Robert was going to find out a lot more about his mother and find his father. He was going to reluctantly work for MIO. Robert & Ravi were going to return to Sri Lanka & uncover some buried secrets. Bella’s family history was going to come into play. There were going to be some shocking deaths and reversals. And we were going to find out a lot more about Lord Trash... Instead, since ITV didn't want to make any more, they’re all dead!"
