Principal photography has begun on the new South African murder mystery series RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER, based on the Tannie Maria novels by Sally Andrew. Starring Outlander actor Maria Doyle Kennedy and Tony Kgoroge, the series will premiere on M-Net (DStv 101) in March 2022 in South Africa and Acorn TV will then bring the show to the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Further territory information will be announced in due course.
The ten-episode series being filmed in the Karoo and Scotland is a co-production between South African network M-Net (part of the Multichoice Group), AMC Networks' Acorn TV, German distributor Global Screen (a brand of Telepool) and Cape Town-based Both Worlds Pictures, who are producing in collaboration with Scottish indie Pirate Productions.
M-Net will hold exclusive rights to the series in Africa and Acorn TV will hold exclusive rights in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, while Telepool-owned Global Screen will handle distribution for the rest of the world. This quirky, heartwarming and deliciously food-filled murder mystery series is based on Sally Andrew's acclaimed novel RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER: A TANNIE MARIA MYSTERY and centres on Maria Purvis (played by Kennedy), an advice columnist who investigates the murder of one of her correspondents.
When a woman who has written to Maria about her abusive husband is found dead, Maria joins forces with a courageous rookie journalist, Jessie September (played by newcomer Kylie Fisher). Together the two women set out to solve the small-town murder and catch the killer – before the local police find more victims. Tony Kgoroge plays Khaya Meyer, the local Chief Detective.
Read what Sally Andrew has to say about her experience of optioning film rights to her bestselling series:
The series will also star Elton Landrew (Trackers, Ellen: The Ellen Pakkies Story) as Constable Piet, Arno Greeff (Vaselinetjie) as Warrant Officer Regardt Snyman, Jennifer Steyn (Goodbye Bafana) as the editor of the local paper, and Lee Duru (Mama Jack) as Grace, a domestic worker whose story shakes up the town.
The novel was adapted for television by South African writer Karen Jeynes. Christiaan Olwagen (Kanarie, Poppie Nongena) and David Isaacs (Swartwater, Joe Barber) will direct the project. Karen Jeynes is also an executive producer along with Annie Griffin on the Scottish side, Christiaan Olwagen, star Maria Doyle Kennedy, Acorn’s MD Catherine Mackin, Lesley Pemberton, M-Net’s Yolisa Phahle, Allan Sperling and Jan du Plessis, and Both World’s Thierry Cassuto and Karen Jeynes.
Thierry Cassuto of Both Worlds Pictures says: ‘We are thrilled to partner with M-Net, Acorn and Global Screen to produce this ambitious series brilliantly adapted by Karen Jeynes from the delicious Sally Andrew novels. Viewers can look forward to a dazzling cast and a very intriguing story with a unique tone, which brings together small-town life, murder, love and mouth-watering food, which our extraordinarily talented director Christiaan Olwagen likes to present as The Killing meets Chocolat.’
Yolisa Phahle, CEO of General Entertainment and Connected Video for MultiChoice said: ‘MultiChoice is delighted to partner with Acorn TV and Global Screen on this brilliant murder mystery series. We are proud to be working with South Africa’s talented writer Karen Jeynes and award-winning directors Christiaan Olwagen and David Isaacs. This partnership will continue to put MultiChoice on the forefront of high-quality African television that promotes our ongoing commitment of being Africa’s most-loved storyteller.’
Acorn’s Mackin said: ‘We look forward to bringing this first-ever TV dramatization of Sally Andrew’s renowned novels to life. This series is a prime example of the kind of fascinating, masterfully written stories set around the globe which we’re proud to offer.’
Sally Andrew’s Tannie Maria series has been published in 14 languages and across 5 continents, RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER and THE SATANIC MECHANIC are available from Ecco Press in the US, Canongate in the UK and Penguin Random House South Africa, who have also published DEATH ON THE LIMPOPO . The fourth instalment in the series, THE MILK TART MURDER, will be published by PRH South Africa in March 2022.
Both readers and viewers are in for more Tannie Maria treats!
You can see lots of excellent video clips – featuring beautiful nature and appetising food – on Sally’s YouTube channel and get a glimpse of Sally and Tannie Maria’s world on her website.
Praise for Sally Andrew’s Tannie Maria series:
‘Sublime’ – Publishers Weekly
‘Vivid, amusing and immensely enjoyable …. A triumph.’ – Alexander McCall Smith
‘Utterly delicious, to the very last morsel.’ — Deon Meyer
‘Detection, recipes and a cracking mystery. An irresistible page-turning debut.’ – Woman & Home
‘An intriguing mystery in an exotic locale, a work of enormous charm.’ — Wall Street Journal
‘A delightful debut, tender and funny.’ – Kirkus
About Sally Andrew
Sally Andrew divides her time between the Cape Town coast and a nature reserve near Ladismith in the Klein Karoo, South Africa, where she lives with her wildlife artist partner, among various wild creatures (including, as she says, ‘a giant eland and a secretive leopard’). Sally has also published a number of non-fiction books on adult and environmental education.
The Tannie Maria series titles are all bestsellers in South Africa – regularly in the Top 5 – and Sally is a firm festival favourite. Sally also receives a stream of fan mail from all around the world – often enquiring how soon the next delicious instalment will reach readers!