Channel 5 has made six new series commissions – including three from Clapperboard – and three returning commissions, as it continues to add to its growing drama portfolio.
The first of the six is Number One Fan (4×60’), from Clapperboard; a suspenseful thriller set in the world of daytime TV. The series focuses on Morning show presenter Lucy, who is saved from an attack by a strange woman named Donna who claims to be her number one fan.
Lucy’s gratitude quickly sours when Donna’s fandom turns into a darker obsession infiltrating Lucy’s career, family and friends. However to her horror Lucy comes to realise that Donna has a link to a hidden secret in her past which threatens to derail the career she has so carefully curated. The series was greenlit by Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell.
The second addition to the slate is Missed Call (5×60’), a five-part thriller from French production company Pernel Media; the creators of 5 drama The Au Pair. After a worrying late-night missed call from her daughter who is on a school exchange, single mother Sarah travels to the idyllic French village her daughter is meant to be staying in. However, Sarah arrives to find the host family and local police disturbingly unconcerned. Dismissed as a typical teenage disappearance, Katie’s case is ignored—but Sarah knows something is wrong. Her search quickly spirals into a tense and dangerous race against time to uncover the truth before it’s too late.
The series was ordered by Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell, and Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5.
The next offering is The Family Secret (4 x60’) is a gripping, psychological drama that asks that asks: what if your past isn’t what you think it is? When an unexpected inheritance disrupts Amanda Wilkins’ seemingly ordinary world, she is drawn into a compelling mystery that forces her to question everything she thought she knew.
The series is produced by Lonesome Pine, in association with Sphere Abacus who will distribute the series internationally. Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5 greenlit the series.
The next addition is Imposter (4×60’) starring Kym Marsh and Neighbours legend Jackie Woodburne. Produced by Fremantle Australia for 5. The series was ordered by Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor, 5. Fremantle is handling global sales.
A splashy seaside hotel becomes the centre of a bitter family dispute as matriarch Helen refuses to sell, despite pressure from her three adult children. But Helen is hiding a secret: a daughter she gave up for adoption decades ago. When Amanda suddenly appears, Helen welcomes her with open arms— but is Amanda who she says she is? The lucrative hotel is the ultimate prize and a twisted scheme soon spirals into betrayal and ultimately, murder. The series is set to begin production in Victoria, Australia, this Summer. The series is set to begin production in Victoria, Australia this Summer.
Clapperboard is also adapting detective mystery Cooper and Fry (4×120’) from the best-selling novels by Stephen Booth. Set in the mystery-shrouded Peak District, the series follows two mismatched young detectives: affable local Ben Cooper, played by Robert James-Collier (The Inheritance, Downton Abbey), and guarded newcomer Diane Fry, played by Mandip Gill (Doctor Who, Suspicion). Thrown together to investigate a string of mysterious deaths they must learn to work together to get results. As their personal lives begin to intertwine, a unique friendship begins to form… But it won’t always be easy. The series will adapt four of Booth’s early novels including Black Dog, Dying to Sin, Blind To the Bones and Dancing with the Virgins.
The series is produced by Clapperboard in association with and distributed by Studio TF1, and was ordered by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5.
Finally, a co-production from Blackbox Multimedia and Clapperboard is Death In Benidorm w/t (6×60’). Former detective Dennis Crown has swapped the chaos of the UK for a quieter life running a bar in Benidorm. But when tourists start turning up dead, he’s reluctantly drawn back into detective work—egged on by his barmaid Rosa, a crime drama superfan. With Dennis’s real-world experience and Rosa’s encyclopaedic TV knowledge, each episode sees the duo tackling a new murder in paradise, whilst trying to remain on the right side of the local Spanish cops.
The series was greenlit by Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor, 5 with ZDF Studios on board as international distributor for the title.
“This new slate of scripted commissions showcases the breadth and ambition of 5’s storytelling,” says Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell. “From brand new thrillers and character-driven mysteries to the much-anticipated return of audience favourites, we’re continuing to build a rich and distinctive drama offering. These titles reflect our commitment to delivering compelling, accessible British drama that resonates with viewers across the UK. We look forward to announcing further titles in the coming months.”
5 has also announced the rags to riches family saga The Hardacres (6×60’) will return for a second outing. From Playground, the award-winning production company behind the internationally acclaimed hit series All Creatures Great and Small; in association with Screen Ireland and Red Berry Productions. Banijay Rights handles international sales for the series. Following the smash-hit first series, which followed the Hardacre family as they navigated their rise from poverty to staggering wealth and the unexpected twists and turns that money brought, the new season charts the Hardacres as they settle into Hardacre Hall and turn their attention to reshaping the world around them… with all the ambition, friction, and fallout that entails.
The series was commissioned by Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell, alongside Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, 5.
Recently promoted to Head of Drama, Helen finds herself being challenged by outspoken pupil Cressida when she stumbles over student Dee’s correct pronouns and insists that her class study Shakespeare as opposed to more modern progressive works. A sinister grudge match quickly develops between teacher and pupil and, when Dee commits suicide following an argument with Helen, Cressida resorts to blackmail to make Helen pay for her “outdated” views. As the war intensifies and her world comes crashing down around her, Helen must fight to hold on to both her family and her career before she loses everything.
The series is also produced by Clapperboard in association with and distributed by STUDIO TF1. Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK, Sebastian Cardwell and Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor, 5 ordered the series. Further casting will be announced at a later date.
Much-loved crime drama The Madame Blanc Mysteries created by and starring Sally Lindsay will also return for a feature-length Christmas special this year. Clapperboard (The Game, The Good Ship Murder) and Saffron Cherry Productions (The World According to Grandpa) will co-produce with Acorn Media Enterprises (Acorn TV) on board as international distributor, holding exclusive rights worldwide except for the UK and Northern Ireland. The special was ordered by Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor, 5.
Sally Lindsay will return as Jean White alongside Steve Edge, Sue Holderness, Robin Askwith, Alex Gaumond, Sue Vincent and Tony Robinson who are all set to reprise their roles for this festive feature-length special.
Production credits
Number One Fan
Mike Benson and Suzi McIntosh are Executive Producers for Clapperboard
Rachel Kilfeather (Vikings: Valhalla, Small Town, Big Story) is Lead Writer on the series with Marcus Fleming (Smother, Blackshore)
Missed Call
Samuel Kissous is Executive Producer for Pernel Media.
Jean-Marc Rouhette and Marc Jenny are Producers for Pernel Media
Matthew Thomas (Marcella, Queens of Mystery), Sally Abbott (Death in Paradise, Vera) and Paul Matthew Thompson (The Good Ship Murder, Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators) are Writers
Sheree Folkson (The Great, Bridgerton) is Director
Imposter
Jason Herbison (Neighbours, Heat) created the series and is Executive Producer
Greg Woods (Wentworth Prison, Riptide) is Executive Producer for Fremantle Australia
Andrew Thompson (Neighbours) is Producer
Kate Kendall (Neighbours, Heat) is Director
Cooper and Fry
Managing Director Mike Benson and Rachel Gesua (The Game, The Catch) are Executive Producers for Clapperboard
Ryan Tohill (Game of Thrones, Dalgliesh) and Jesse Quinones (Inside No. 9, Waterloo Road) are Directors
Ben Court (Grace, Whitechapel) and Caroline Ip (Grace, Whitechapel) created the series and are also writers. Kit Lambert (Whitstable Pearl, Death in Paradise) and Jeff Povey (The Good Ship Murder, EastEnders) are also on board as writers
Ian Hunt-Duffy will produce alongside Simon Doyle for Failsafe Films
Death in Benidorm
Chiara Cardoso and Camilla Hammer are Executive Producers for Blackbox Multimedia
Mike Benson and Andy Morgan are Executive Producers for Clapperboard
Yi Qiao, Director Drama and Robert Franke, VP Drama for ZDF Studios are also Executive Producers.
Ian Jarvis (The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin) created the series
Simon Delaney (Death in Paradise, The Young Offenders) is Director
Yasmin Akram (Flack), Claire Downes (The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, The Outlaws) and Tom Parry (Your Christmas or Mine, Your Christmas or Mine 2) on board as Writers.
Family Secret
Lesley Douglas is Executive Producer for Lonesome Pine
Aschlin Ditta (The Feud, The Inheritance) is on board as Writer and Andy De Emmony (The Feud, Vigil) will direct.
The Hardacres S2
Executive Producers are Sir Colin Callender CBE (All Creatures Great and Small, The Undeclared War) and David Stern (Howards End, The Last Tycoon) for Playground, Lesley McKimm (My Name is Emily, Sunlight) for Red Berry Productions, Cathy Payne and Simon Cox for Banijay Rights and Kate McColgan for Screen Ireland.
Kathryn Kennedy Fenton (The Miracle Club, Atomic Hope) is on board as Producer and Rachel Carey (The Hardacres, Obituary season 2), is returning as Lead Director.
Dan Sefton (The Mallorca Files, Finders Keepers) is Lead Writer on series two with Sarah-Louise Hawkins (Whitstable Pearl, The Mallorca Files), Emma Reeves (The Hardacres, The Beaker Girls), Dan Muirden (Death in Paradise, Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators) , Cara Loftus (Spilt Milk) and Susie Conklin (A Gentleman in Moscow, A Discovery of Witches) also join to pen the series.
The Teacher 3
Executive Producers for Clapperboard are Mike Benson, Andy Morgan and Dom Leclerc
Jake Rollins (The Madame Blanc Mysteries, The Good Ship Murder) is Producer
Dom Leclerc (The Teacher, Sex Education) will also direct the series
Ciara Conway (Whitstable Pearl, The Wives) is on board as Head Writer alongside additional writers Kat Rose Martin (The Good Ship Murder, Waterloo Road) and David Persiva (How to Make Her Leave)
The Madame Blanc Mysteries Christmas Special
The Christmas special will be directed by Dermot Boyd (The Worst Witch). Myf Hopkins (Little Disasters, The Castaways) is Producer while Mike Benson, Andy Morgan and Dermot Boyd will serve as Executive Producers for Clapperboard alongside Sally Lindsay and Caroline Roberts-Cherry for Saffron Cherry. Sue Vincent will also co-write the episodes alongside Sally Lindsay.
Pippa Considine
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