‘Hotel Portofino’ commissioned for a third season – Entertainment Focus

Eagle Eye Drama and Beta Film’s ‘Hotel Portofino’ will return for a third season it’s been confirmed.

The new season will feature six new episodes with Natascha McElhone (‘Ronin’) returning to head up the cast as Bella Ainsworth, the daughter of a wealthy industrialist who has moved to Italy to set up a quintessentially British hotel in the breathtakingly beautiful town of Portofino.

Mark Umbers (‘Home Fires’) plays her charming but dangerous aristocratic husband, Cecil, and Lily Fraser (‘Saint Maud’, ‘Motherland’) will return as the hotel’s most famous guest singer turned movie star, Claudine Pascal. 

Season three will see Bella and Cecil, now estranged, being forced to come together to figure out a way forward but their negotiations are complicated by the fact that Cecil has inherited his father’s title and now has an enormous inheritance tax bill to pay. However, Bella is reveling in her newfound independence and formulates her own plans for a new beauty venture. The series builds to an explosive climax with a party at the hotel, where one guest will get their ultimate revenge. 

Jo McGrath, CCO of Eagle Eye Drama, says: “‘Hotel Portofino’ is Eagle Eye’s first original commission, so it’s wonderful to see the show being embraced by so many international audiences. The series has a strong ensemble cast of warm characters, beautiful locations, and compelling cliffhanger plotlines – all qualities that help explain its international appeal with audiences. Season three is set to be our most sumptuous yet, with new passions and old rivalries threatening the future of the Ainsworth family.” 

Oliver Bachert, Beta Film’s Chief Distribution Officer, adds: “‘Hotel Portofino’ brings good joy and drama to global screens, and we are honored and energized to be the international partner of Eagle Eye and PBS in this successful franchise. ‘Hotel Portofino’ will surely extend its fan-base and continue captivating audiences with a pinch of dolce vita and the good vibes we all long for.” 

All six episodes in season three will once again be written by Matt Baker, who created the original ‘Hotel Portofino’ series. Jo McGrath and Walter Iuzzolino will again oversee the production as executive producers.

Season three will be funded by a combination of distribution money, tax breaks and a number of global broadcaster pre-sales (to be announced in due course.) 

The series is produced in cooperation with the Beta Group, which also handles world sales. Production service is provided by Drugiplan.