BritBox has the biggest set of British boxsets from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and will now debut originals A Spy Among Friends, The Beast Must Die, Crime and Magpie Murders.

A Spy Among Friends is set to be a limited series based on the novel of the same name by Ben Macintyre and explores a world of espionage and duplicity in the time of the Cold War.

The Beast Must Die, based on the novel by Nicholas Blake, stars Cush Jumbo, Billy Howle and Nathaniel Parker. The story follows a mother grieving the loss of her son, who gets a chance to carry out her own form of justice when she infiltrates the life of the man she believes killed her son.

Produced by Regency Television and Scott Free, the series has been adapted for TV by Gaby Chiappe and directed by Dome Karukoski.

Head of TV and Film at Scott Free UK, Marina Brackenbury, commented: “The Beast Must Die is both intensely emotional and thrilling, with a fresh and exciting psychology at play between all the characters; Dome and our stellar cast each bring a very personal take to the material which - along with our partners New Regency, BritBox and Nathaniel Parker - we feel will undoubtedly translate as a must see for audiences.”

Irvine Welsh, known for Trainspotting, is set to adapt his first TV drama based on his own novel Crime, which sees him team up with his screenwriting partner Dean Cavanagh.

The six-part series, set in Edinburgh, follows Detective Inspector Ray Lennox (Dougray Scott) as he investigates the disappearance of a schoolgirl, while also fighting his own personal demons.

Irvine Welsh was “delighted” to be working with BritBox, he added: “Lennox is a compelling character for me, not so much a cop as a broken avenging angel. So don’t expect a run of the mill cop show, and nonces beware.”

Adapted from the novel by Anthony Horowitz OBE, Magpie Murders is a murder mystery that will keep viewers guessing and contains a novel within a novel.

Susan Ryeland is an editor and sees her life turned upside down when she is given an unfinished manuscript of author, Alan Conway’s latest novel.

Produced by Eleventh Hour Films, Jill Green, chief executive of Eleventh Hour Films said: “This is an extraordinary and distinctive drama. I don’t think there’s ever been a crime show like it with a strong female lead treading the line between reality and fiction as she fights to uncover the truth.”

Anthony Horowitz commented: “Magpie Murders is my most successful novel and it wasn’t easy to adapt. But I think the result is a completely original drama that will delight and beguile audiences in equal measure.”