Year of the Rabbit: Series Overview

4 June 2019

Set in the dark heart of Victorian London, Year of the Rabbit follows Detective Inspector Rabbit (BAFTA winner Matt Berry), a hardened booze-hound who’s seen it all, and his hapless new partner Strauss (Freddie Fox). While investigating a murder, the ambitious daughter (Susan Wokoma) of the chief of police joins them, becoming London’s first female officer. Together, the trio must fight crime while rubbing shoulders with street gangs, crooked politicians and Bulgarian princes. Directed by BAFTA-nominated Ben Taylor (Catastrophe) and written by Emmy and WGA Award-winners Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil (Veep), with additional material from Matt Berry.

Episode one synopsis

London, 1887. A lawless city. Jewel thieves and body snatchers stalk the streets and the police do their best to contain them - but it isn’t easy. At the forefront of that fight is Detective Inspector Rabbit (Matt Berry). Rabbit’s been chasing bad guys for as long as he can remember, but now he’s not as young as he was and his heart keeps stopping at inopportune moments. So Rabbit’s boss, Chief Inspector Wisbech (Alun Armstrong) forces him to get a partner – young, fresh-faced and clueless Sergeant Strauss (Freddie Fox), just down from Cambridge. He isn’t cut out for this sort of work. He’s only ever read about the East End in pamphlets. But he’s really, really keen.

In the East End, crime is relentless so when they’re tasked with solving the murder of another young women, it doesn’t seem that unusual. Until they notice a second bullet hole, and a mysterious symbol on her make up compact, which leads them into a labyrinthine quest for a killer, while rubbing shoulders with crooked politicians. Along the way, they team up with Mabel (Susan Wokoma), the daughter of the Chief of Police, who has ambitions to become the first female police officer, or ‘Fopper’.

Directed by BAFTA-nominated Ben Taylor (Catastrophe) and written by Emmy and WGA Award-winners Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil (Veep), with additional material from Matt Berry.