Channel 5 has commissioned Compulsion (4 x 60”) from LA Productions (Broken, Care, Anthony), set to air in 2022.
Compulsion is a 4 x 60 thriller written by Sarah Deane (Moving On, Clink) and directed by Noreen Kershaw (Call the Midwife, Pitching In, Our Girl). Colin McKeown will serve as Executive Producer for LA Productions with Donna Molloy producing. Adam Barth and Nicola Söderlund are Executive Producers for Eccho Rights. Eccho Rights are also on board to handle international distribution for the series.
Leading the cast of Compulsion is Leanne Best (Young Wallander, Cold Feet) as Jenny, and Anna Chancellor (Pennyworth, The Watch) as Sasha. The gripping four part series follows paramedic Jenny, who after a fatal train crash develops a gambling addition to try to cope with her PTSD. Heavily in debt to some dangerous people, help arrives in the form of a good Samaritan Sasha, who offers Jenny a way out. However, Sasha has her own agenda, one which will ultimately force Jenny to take the biggest gamble of her life. For her life. Hayley Mills (Pollyanna, Pitching In) also stars as Connie Bertram; a fearsome loan shark who holds Jenny’s fate in her hands.
Sebastian Cardwell, Channel 5 Deputy Director of Programmes, ViacomCBS Networks UK commented: “I’m excited to be adding to our thriving drama slate with another commission for 2022! LA Productions have a wealth of experience creating cutting edge drama, and I’m looking forward to teaming up with them to bring this gripping story to Channel 5 viewers.”
Colin McKeown, Executive Producer, LA Productions added: “We strive with all of our dramas to get the best cast, the best crew and the best script. With ‘Compulsion’ we believe we have achieved that.”
“We are delighted to announce Compulsion as the first UK drama production on our slate. A thrilling premise with a brilliant cast, we have already seen a high level of interest from international broadcasters.” says Adam Barth, Director of Co-productions, Acquisitions, and Development, Eccho Rights, London.
Nicola Söderlund, Managing Partner at Eccho Rights added: “Since establishing our London office we’ve made great strides in drama development and co-production, with partners throughout Western Europe. Compulsion is the first of a raft of projects in the pipeline, that we are excited to announce in the coming months.”
Compulsion is currently in production in Liverpool and is expected to transmit on Channel 5 in 2022.
Jon Creamer
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