The BBC have scrapped Zen, the Italian detective drama starring Rufus Sewell, after just three feature-length episodes. But producers Left Bank are determined to carry on with the show and are currently in talks with other possible producers.
A spokesman for Left Bank said: âLeft Bank Pictures are currently in discussion with other UK broadcasters about Zen. We are delighted that this fresh and stylish detective drama resonated with British viewers, television critics and fans of the novels alike and remain hugely proud of the three films.â?
Over the three episodes, Zen averaged 5.7 million viewers on BBC One, around the same number as Kenneth Branaghâs Swedish crime-fest Wallander. The first episode did well, beating ITVâs Marple in the ratings, but viewing figures for the next two episodes fell, embarrassingly losing to Dancing on Ice and Wild at Heart.
Amusingly, Zen managed woo the critics but fall foul of the viewers, with the Sunday Telegraph describing it as âthe crime drama of the yearâ, and it joins a number of series, such as NBCâs Friday Night Lights which won plenty of plaudits but never got a large audience.
