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The Watch Preview: Do You Have What It Takes to Join City Watch?

With now only a little more than a month to go, BBC America is shifting gears on how it promotes The Watch, the network's series adaptation of Sir Terry Pratchett's (Good Omens) epic comedy-fantasy book series "Discworld" that's set to launch on Sunday, January 3, 2021. Written by Simon Allen (Strike Back, The Musketeers), Joy Wilkinson (Doctor Who), Catherine Tregenna (Torchwood), Amrou Al-Kadhi (Little America), and Ed Hime, the "punk rock" thriller focuses on Richard Dormer's (Game of Thrones) Sam Vimes and City Watch as they fight to save their city from outside forces – and from itself. Which is pretty tough to do when crime isn't exactly as "illegal" as it used to be.

The Watch is keeping an eye on you (Image: BBC America)
The Watch is keeping an eye on you (Image: BBC America)

But as much of a well-oiled machine as City Watch is (kinda), that doesn't mean they're not always looking for new recruits. So if you're a fellow misfit, freak, or weirdo? You might just want to give them a call:

Here's a look back at the NYCC-Metaverse teaser trailer and sneak preview clips of Dormer's Sam Vimes and City Watch in action:

In BBC AMERICA's newest original series, The Watch, an unlikely group of misfits, The City Watch, find the guts to save the world, surprising even themselves in the process. The comedic yet thrilling series pits trolls, werewolves, wizards and other improbable heroes against an evil plot to resurrect a great dragon which would lead to the destruction of life as they know it. From lead writer and executive producer Simon Allen, the modern and inclusive series is inspired by many of Sir Terry Pratchett's famous "Discworld" creations including the captain of The City Watch Sam Vimes (Richard Dormer), the last scion of nobility Lady Sybil Ramkin (Lara Rossi), the naïve but heroic Carrot (Adam Hughill), the mysterious Angua (Marama Corlett) and the ingenious forensics expert Cheery (Jo Eaton-Kent) together with Pratchett's iconic characterization of Death.

Joining Dormer in the 2021 series are Adam Hugill, Jo Eaton-Kent, Marama Corlett, Lara Rossi, Sam Adewunmi, Anna Chancellor, James Fleet, Ingrid Oliver, Ruth Madeley, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Bianca Simone Mannie, Wendell Pierce, Matt Berry, Paul Kaye, and Ralph Ineson. Hugill's Constable Carrot was raised as a dwarf but turned out to be an orphaned human child. He joins the group after pursuing a career in law enforcement. Eaton-Kent's Constable Cheery is an ingenious, nonbinary forensics expert. Corlett's mysterious Corporal Angua is charged with training Carrot and keeping him alive. Rossi's Lady Sybil Ramkin is the last scion of Ankh-Morpork's nobility, who tries to fix the city via vigilantism. Adewunmi's Carcer Dun is a wounded and wrong man out to take control of the city and exact revenge on an unjust reality. Chancellor's Lord Vetinari is the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, and architect of the city's normalized wrongness and ramshackle system of governance.

Richard Dormer as Captain Sam Vimes - The Watch _ Season 1 - Photo Credit: Ilze Kitshoff/BBCA
Richard Dormer as Captain Sam Vimes – The Watch _ Season 1 – Photo Credit: Ilze Kitshoff/BBCA

Fleet's The Archchancellor is a wizard, magical advisor, and the Head of the Unseen University. Oliver's Doctor Cruces is the Head of The Assassins' Guild. Ruth Madeley's wiry Throat is the city's best snitch, with a gang of freelance henchmen at her beck and call. Kae-Kazim's Captain John Keel is the former leader of The Watch and mentor to Sam Vimes, determined to save the corrupt and chaotic city. Mannie's cunning Wonse is a wizard hopeful in waiting that is frequently underestimated. Pierce voices Death, a dry, sardonic Grim Reaper, while Berry voices Wayne, a magical speaking sword Kaye (Game of Thrones) portrays Inigo Skimmer, a.k.a. The Duke of Stab, while Ineson voices Sergeant Detritus, a huge troll made of stone and a member of The City Watch.

The Watch Preview: Do You Have What It Takes to Join City Watch?
Lara Rossi as Lady Sybil Ramkin; single – The Watch _ Season 1 – Photo Credit: Ilze Kitshoff/BBCA3

BBC Studios will be sharing production with Narrativia, the production company founded by Pratchett in 2012 and now run by the author's daughter Rhianna Pratchett and his former business manager Rob Wilkins. BBC Studios' Head of Drama London Hilary Salmon (Luther, Silent Witness) will executive produce the series alongside Wilkins, Ben Donald, and Phil Collinson.


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Ray FlookAbout Ray Flook

Serving as Television Editor since 2018, Ray began five years earlier as a contributing writer/photographer before being brought onto the core BC team in 2017.
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