Silver Spring, MD — The poignant and humorous British drama SHADES debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on February 14, 2012. Maeve (Dervla Kirwan, Ballykissangel) and Mark (Stephen Tompkinson, Wild at Heart) meet in London under unusual circumstances: both are recently deceased. By turns moving and witty, the series explores what it means to have a chance to help—or hinder—those left behind. The 2000 series aired on public television in the U.S. (6 episodes, $39.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Maeve was killed by a hit-and-run driver, and Mark died during a routine surgery while his wife was giving birth to their son. The two mismatched souls find themselves still in this world, thrown together in a weird and wonderful afterlife.

This touching and gently humorous British drama explores what it means to have a chance to help—or hinder—those left behind. Maeve’s lover wasn’t just cheating on his wife; he was also cheating on Maeve. Mark was happily married, but he left his wife and children penniless. In this afterlife, the dead can’t talk to those they knew when alive, but they can speak freely with strangers. Will Maeve and Mark be able to right past wrongs and repair relationships? What will they learn about each other, and themselves?

This poignant drama also stars Peter O’Brien (Queer as Folk), David Bradley (Harry Potter), and Callum Blue (Dead Like Me).

Street Date: February 14, 2012
SRP: $39.99
DVD 2-Disc Set: 6 episodes on 2 discs; approx. 296 min.; 16:9 widescreen; SDH subtitles

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media U.S. distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British TV. 2011 releases included Upstairs, Downstairs: 40th Anniversary Edition, Brideshead Revisited: 30th Anniversary Edition, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Early 2012 releases include a bonus packed collector’s edition of I, Claudius; the Blu-ray debuts for the first three series of Agatha Christie’s Poirot; the first Blu-ray of Acorn’s top-selling series with Midsomer Murders, Set 19; the U.S. debut of Lynda La Plante’s Above Suspicion; complete collections of Poldark, The Brief, Northern Lights, and French Fields; and more episodes from Single-Handed, New Tricks, and Murder Investigation Team. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.

Shades is distributed by ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment; one of the world’s leading international TV distribution, home-entertainment and merchandising & licensing businesses.