UKTV’s crime drama channel, Alibi, has co-commissioned a second six-part series of the hit UKTV original Annika, with US broadcaster Masterpiece and All3Media International.

The first series, produced by Black Camel Pictures, became Alibi’s top performing title of all time, reaching 1.32million individuals since its launch.

The  series is based on the BBC Radio 4 drama about the specialist Scottish Marine Homicide Unit, written by Nick Walker. The second series will see the return of Nicola Walker (The Split, Unforgotten) as DI Annika Strandhed.

The series has been commissioned by senior drama commissioner Philippa Collie Cousins with head of scripted Pete Thornton. The series is ordered by Alibi channel director Emma Ayech. Richard Watsham is director of commissioning for UKTV, and Adrian Willis is genre general manager for drama and lifestyle. Arabella Page Croft and Nicole Fitzpatrick are executive producers for Black Camel Pictures, and Kieran Parker is the series producer.

Philippa Collie Cousins said: “I’m thrilled to get the team back together on a second series of this refreshing, character led crime drama. Nicola has such an authentic approach, she brings the character of Annika to life in a unique way and, by breaking the fourth wall with conviction and wit, she adds both real depth and laugh out loud moments. ”

Emma Ayech added: “The response to this series has been incredible – Alibi viewers have really embraced the dry humour of Nick Walker’s original series. We are thrilled to be bringing the wonderful Nicola Walker and the whole Annika team back for a second series. I can’t wait for the Alibi audience to step back into Annika’s world once again.”

Arabella Page Croft, Black Camel Pictures, said: “The new series will see Annika and her brilliant MHU uncover bodies in Edinburgh, Glasgow and as far as the Hebridean island of Jura, keeping in high literary company with the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson, George Orwell and Walter Scott to help solve the cases. Nick Walker is again at the helm, so this series promises more twisty crimes and grisly reveals while delving into our exciting serial hooks from the first series.”

Annika’s first series will have its broadcast premiere on Masterpiece in the USA on 16th October.

All3Media International has also agreed further sales across three continents, including sales to France Televisions Outre Mer 1ère, Sky Deutschland has taken the series in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland in a first window deal and ZDF has acquired a second window deal for Germany. Additionally, the series has travelled to AXN in Spain (Sony Pictures Television Networks), Warner Bros. Discovery in Italy where it will air on free television owned channel Giallo, RSI in Italian-speaking Switzerland, Siminn hf in Iceland, HRT in Croatia and COSMOTE in Greece. Outside of Europe, BritBox has also acquired Annika in South Africa and Australia. In the latter territory the platform has taken the second window, following the series’ Australian premiere on ABC. Sky New Zealand has also acquired the series and ABC Commercial has signed a home entertainment deal covering Australia and New Zealand, whilst WOWOW has taken rights in Japan.

Annika is the third UKTV original that has returned for a second series on Alibi, alongside Traces, starring Molly Windsor and Martin Compston, and We Hunt Together, starring Eve Myles and Babou Ceesay. The Diplomat, produced by World Productions, will also be airing in 2023.

 

Pippa Considine

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