Channel 4 today has greenlit three new dramas – Kiri, Baghdad Central and Pure – and has re-commissioned No Offence.
The series have been ordered by C4’s head of drama Beth Willis from four indies, The Forge, Euston Films, Drama Republic and AbbottVision.
Kiri is a four-part drama starring Sarah Lancashire from the writer of National Treasure, Jack Thorne.
Kiri (w/t) examines the abduction and death of a young black girl, named Kiri, who is soon-to-be-adopted by her white foster family, and the trail of lies, blame, guilt and notoriety that follows. Sarah Lancashire plays an experienced, no-nonsense social worker who loves and believes in her job, but has a maverick and instinctive approach to protecting the children in her care. Miriam arranges for Kiri to have an unsupervised visit with her biological grandparents. But when Kiri disappears during the visit, the fingers of suspicion and blame from the police, the press, and even her colleagues, point firmly at Miriam.
Kiri is commissioned for Channel 4 by Beth Willis and will be produced by The Forge in association with Hulu. The production was backed by finance from the Welsh Government.
It will begin shooting in 2017 to air on Channel 4 in 2018. George Ormond and George Faber are Executive Producers with Toby Bentley producing. Euros Lyn will direct the series.
all3media International is The Forge’s international partner on Kiri and will handle its global sales.
Baghdad Central is a six-part crime thriller set in aftermath of the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
It is written by Stephen Butchard (The Last Kingdom, House of Saddam) and based on the novel by Elliott Colla. In the midst of the chaos, crime and paranoia, Muhsin al-Khafaji’s an Iraqi ex-policeman has lost his home, his wife and his career and is battling to keep himself and his ailing daughter safe. When his desperate brother in-law asks him to help find his missing niece, Khafaji’s sense of love and duty force him to accept the task.
Baghdad Central (6×60) was commissioned for Channel 4 by Beth Willis. Manpreet Dosanjh and Matthew Wilson are Commissioning Executives for Channel 4.
Filming will commence in 2018 with the series scheduled to air on Channel 4 later that year. The series is produced by Euston Films (part of FremantleMedia UK). Kate Harwood is executive producer, Jonathan Curling (The Secret) producer, with director and full cast to be announced at a later date.
FremantleMedia International will act as the global distributor for the series.
Pure is a six-part drama and is billed as offering a singular insight into one young woman’s struggle with an x-rated secret.
It is adapted by Kirstie Swain (Clique) from Rose Bretécher’s book. It is the story of 22 year old Marnie who is assailed by an incessant barrage of graphic x-rated thoughts that intrude, at the most inopportune of moments, on her day to day life. It is billed as a moving, warm and truthful exploration of one young woman’s search for herself and her very real struggle with mental illness. It explores what it means to be a young woman today, what it means to discover a whole new world. It’s about finding new friends, and most importantly, about falling in love.
The series is commissioned by Beth Willis. Manpreet Dosanjh and Matthew Wilson are Commissioning Executives for Channel 4.
Filming will begin in early 2018 to air on Channel 4 later that year. The series will be produced by Drama Republic. Roanna Benn and Greg Brenman will serve as Executive Producers. Producer is Jen Kenwood.
Paul Abbott’s No Offence has been commissioned for a third series, with D.I. Viv Deering and her team from Friday Street station once more clashing with the underworld and their overlords alike. This third series kicks off with the attempted assassination of a local politician by a new Far Right group – an attack which has devastating consequences for the Friday Street team.
No Offence is commissioned by Beth Willis, with Lee Mason as Commissioning Executive.
The series is produced by AbbottVision and Executive Producers are Paul Abbott and Martin Carr. The series Producer is Phil Leach. Catherine Morshead returns as Director for the first and last blocks.
Staff Reporter
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