UKTV has announced the acquisition of the popular drama series “Hotel Portofino” for its channels U and U&DRAMA. The first series will air on Friday, 27 September, at 9 pm, with the second series premiering in the UK later this year.
“Hotel Portofino” is a period drama set in the 1920s on the picturesque Italian Riviera. It follows a British family’s journey as they establish a hotel for upper-class travellers. The series has been produced by Eagle Eye Drama in association with Beta Film, which handles international distribution, and has been sold to over 70 territories, including Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and North America, where it has received critical acclaim.
The acquisition was secured by Jimmy Rumble, Global Acquisitions Manager, and overseen by Melanie Rumani, Global Head of Acquisitions for UKTV and BBC Studios, along with Andreas Khevenhueller and Oliver N. Bachert from Beta Film.
The series explores the life of Bella Ainsworth (Natascha McElhorne), a co-proprietor of the hotel, who faces challenges such as staff shortages, financial strain, and demanding guests like Lady Latchmere (Anna Chancellor). Bella also contends with the local politician, Signor Danioni (Pasquale Esposito), who poses a threat to her business and becomes entangled in the political climate of Mussolini’s Italy. Additionally, Bella deals with her husband, Cecil (Mark Umbers), who is preoccupied with arranging a profitable marriage for their son to secure the family’s estate in England.
In the second series, Bella anticipates the arrival of her son, Lucian (Oliver Dench), for a holiday, hoping to discuss her plans for the hotel. However, her expectations are disrupted when her husband, Cecil, unexpectedly appears in Portofino. Bella is forced to confront the reality of her relationship with Cecil and make a decision about their future together, especially with the presence of a local architect, Marco Bonacini (Giorgio Marchesi), in her life.
The series is written by Matt Baker and directed by Adam Wimpenny, with Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino serving as executive producers. The third series is currently airing on PBS in the US.
“Hotel Portofino” will be available to stream for free on U.
