5 has commissioned An Impossible Way to Die, a six-part thriller from Clapperboard Studios, that sees a detective’s quiet local policing life upended when she’s thrust into a high-pressure investigation into a mysterious murder.
DS Katie Salter (Sharon Rooney – My Mad Fat Diary, Daddy Issues) solves everyday crimes until she encounters a murder mystery. Four people sat around a table seemingly set for a dinner party, except they are all dead. The only clue is a scorpion crawling out of one of the victim’s mouths…
Set to air on 5 in 2027, DCD Rights is handling international distribution.
Further confirmed cast includes Lois Chimimba (Coldwater, Vigil), Jonny Lavelle (Down Cemetery Road, Black Mirror) and Ashley McGuire (This Country, This Is Going To Hurt).
Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, 5 adds: “An Impossible Way to Die is exactly the kind of distinctive, compelling drama we want to bring to 5 audiences. Casting Sharon Rooney as a detective was the genesis of this thriller, and she brings something fresh and compelling to DS Katie Salter. With its brilliant premise, bold take on the detective genre, fantastic cast and Clapperboard’s flair for character-driven drama, we’re hugely excited to see the series come to life.”
Mike Benson, Managing Director, Clapperboard Studios adds: “We’re delighted to be working again with two of the finest performers out there in Sharon and Emmett, alongside our fantastic cast and talented production team led by Adam and Amber. The scripts are really quite special – gripping, witty and insidious – and alongside our partners 5 and DCD we can’t wait to introduce the world to DS Salter who avoids all the tropes we’ve seen in television detectives down the years.”
An Impossible Way to Die was commissioned for 5 by Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer. The series is executive produced by Clapperboard MD Mike Benson and Myf Hopkins (Little Disasters, The Castaways) for Clapperboard Studios, and produced by Amber Howorth (Legends, When Joan Kissed Barbara). Adam Wimpenny (Hotel Portofino, Madonna & Basquiat) joins as director.
Writers include newcomers Robin Ganderton and Rowena Johnson, who have penned Episodes 1 and 5. Ciara Conway (The Teacher 3, Granite Harbour) has written Episodes 2 and 6, Jillian Mannion (Blood, Sex & Royalty, Death in Paradise) has written Episode 3, and David Persiva (The Teacher 3) has written Episode 4.
An Impossible Way to Die is currently filming and is expected to air on 5 in 2027.
Pippa Considine
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