BBC STUDIOS ANNOUNCE TV ADAPTATION OF GLOBAL HIT BOOK SERIES ‘CROOKHAVEN’
Date Posted: May 23, 2025
Thrilling new family drama centres on a secret school for crooks where students learn how to hone their skills in order to do good
BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions has today announced it is making a TV adaptation of Crookhaven based on J.J. Arcanjo’s hit book series which has sold globally in 16 languages across the world.
Crookhaven will be shot on location in Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen and international distribution is being handled by BBC Studios.
Created for television by Justin Young (Ripper Street, Death In Paradise, Sanditon) Crookhaven shoots in Northern Ireland this summer and is set to premiere on BBC iPlayer in the UK in early 2026.
This thrilling family adventure series is set at mysterious Crookhaven School where high achieving young crooks from across the world are secretly selected to hone their skills in disciplines such as Deception, Crimnastics, Forgery and Infiltration, learning how to use their skills for good and to do what is right in their own way.
Centred around pickpocketing genius Gabriel and his archrival, headmaster’s daughter Penelope, the series follows a group of eight very different, young international students as they compete for the coveted Crooked Cup.
In a school where every teacher is a crook and traitors lurk around every corner, no-one is entirely who they seem to be as the gang uncover the dark secrets that link Penelope’s missing mother with Gabriel’s own mysterious past and confront a terrifying enemy – The Nameless.
A coming-of-age drama full of exciting twists and turns, Crookhaven is about finding your place in the world, learning who you can trust and the very nature of right and wrong.
Author and assistant producer, J.J. Arcanjo, says: “I am absolutely delighted that the BBC are adapting the first of my Crookhaven book series for TV. Working alongside their exceptional team to honour the themes at the heart of the series – those of found family, friendship and what it truly means to be good – whilst also getting to expand on and deepen Gabriel and the crew’s story, continues to be a uniquely satisfying and rewarding experience.
“I have always aimed to excite and inspire the young readers who pick up my books, but also the parents and grandparents who journey with them to my worlds and the TV series aligns perfectly with that. They have created a fun family show filled with humour, heart and plenty of clever twists. I cannot wait for Gabriel Avery and his crew of kind-hearted crooks to be brought to life and introduced to TV audiences around the world.”
Managing Director, BBC Studios Kids & Family, Cecilia Persson, says: “J.J’s Crookhaven is a gripping series about friendship and belonging with great characters and some ingenious plot twists so it’s absolutely perfect for the screen. We are delighted that he has entrusted our incredibly talented team to bring to life what is set to become essential family viewing.”
Chief Executive Officer at Northern Ireland Screen, Richard Williams commented: “ We’re delighted to welcome J.J. Arcanjo’s much-loved story Crookhaven to Northern Ireland this summer. Supporting BBC Studios Kids & Family on this project is a fantastic opportunity to continue building Northern Ireland’s reputation as a home for high-end, international storytelling and in particular kids and family content. We can’t wait to see Gabriel and his crew come to life here.”
Crookhaven is made by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions and led by an award-winning team with Tali Walters as Creative Lead, Mark Freeland [Dodger, The Wrong Mans, The Thick of It, Miranda] and Justin Young as Executive Producers, Jon East [Killing Eve, Downton Abbey, Lost in Space, The Last Kingdom] as director, and Leon McGeown-Fee (Dalgliesh, London Kills, Hope Street) as Producer.
