ITV Axes JEKYLL AND HYDE Following Complaints That It Was Too Violent

Digitalspy reports that Charlie Higson's reboot of the classic horror thriller JEKYLL AND HYDE has been axed by ITV after a single season, following complaints that the first episode was too violent for its time slot.

After moving the series to a later time, the season was temporarily delayed following the violent November attacks in Paris.

The series, starring Tom Bateman (Da Vinci's Demons, The Tunnel), Richard E Grant (Downton Abbey, Dr Who) and Natalie Gumede (Coronation Street, Death In Paradise), debuted to strong ratings in October but quickly declined, averaging just 2.6 million viewers in later episodes.

Higson confirmed the cancellation news on Twitter, commenting: "Sad day today as ITV announce they don't want any more #JekyllandHyde Ah well, I tried. It was a grand adventure while it lasted."

About the show: From an idea conceived by acclaimed novelist Charlie Higson, the action and fantasy series was inspired by The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Higson has written and executive produced the drama which exudes mystery, fantasy, horror and sci-fi.

Set in 1930's London at a time of Hollywood glamour, aerodynamic cars and monster movies, the drama will pay homage to the Stevenson novel, and focus on the young, attractive, troubled hero, Robert Jekyll, the grandson of the original doctor. At the heart of the drama is Robert Jekyll's quest to discover his real identity, his true family history and the nature of his 'curse'. Jekyll transforms into Hyde in moments of extreme anger, stress and when his or the lives of others are threatened.

Higson's Jekyll is a young, sensitive and naïve man of intellect and morality, a well meaning if slightly repressed character who slips between his two personas unwillingly. Hyde is a totally different person; a superhero with super powers, great strength, speed and invulnerability. He is confident, risk-taking and lives life on the edge. His self-destructive nature gets him into trouble, and yet he is an incredibly powerful force. He is a man of action who gets things done despite the consequences! Throughout the series we will witness Jekyll wrestling with the dark, brooding personality of Hyde as he struggles to come to terms with his superhero alter ego.

Further cast includes Stephanie Hyam (Murdered By My Boyfriend), Donald Sumpter (Game Of Thrones, Being Human), Amit Shah (The Smoke, Hustle), Phil McKee (Ripper Street, Dracula),
Christian McKay (Rush, Theory of Everything), Ruby Bentall (Lark Rise to Candleford, The Paradise), Enzo Cilenti (Game of Thrones), Lolita Chakrabarti (The Smoke, Death in Paradise), Michael Karim (Inspector Lewis) and Ace Bhatti (Silk, Eastenders).