ITV Studios has unveiled its sales figures for its extensive scripted catalogue, along with its upcoming drama lineup set to be presented to global buyers at MIPCOM 2023.
The much-anticipated second season of “World on Fire,” penned by the multi-award-winning team of Peter Bowker, Rachel Bennette, and Matt Jones, and produced by Mammoth Screen for the BBC and Masterpiece (in the US and English-speaking Canada), has secured deals in 80 territories. The series transports viewers from the streets of Britain to occupied France, Nazi Germany, and the deserts of North Africa, offering a glimpse into the challenges faced by British troops alongside Indian Sappers and Australian Diggers in an entirely different style of warfare. Season two of “World on Fire” has been snapped up by SRC (French Canada), Movistar in Spain, and across the Nordics (DR, NRK, YLE, SVT, RUV), in addition to M-Net for Africa, SBS Australia, and TVNZ in New Zealand.
The heart-stopping medical thriller “Malpractice” from World Productions, one of ITVX’s most-watched dramas, has found audiences in the Asia Pacific region, with deals secured by Wowow in Japan, KT in South Korea, as well as The Seven Network in Australia and TVNZ in New Zealand. The series, helmed by BAFTA-nominee Philip Barantini (known for “Boiling Point” and “The Responder”), boasts a script by former NHS doctor Grace Ofori-Attah.
Ruth Berry, Managing Director, Global Partnerships, ITV Studios, said “We are so proud to be able to offer our buyers such an impressive slate of returning and new drama from the best producers in the business. Season two of World on Fire, won its slot every night during its run on BBC One and a real testament to the quality and commercial appeal of our portfolio.”
Earlier this year, ITV Studios revealed a significant co-production agreement for the US and Canada to stream “Malpractice” on The Roku Channel, while major Nordic public broadcasters (SVT in Sweden, NRK in Norway, YLE in Finland, DR in Denmark, and RUV in Iceland) secured broadcasting rights for the highly-rated show.
In the 2023 slate, ITV Studios presents a compelling array of new drama titles. Among them is the eagerly-awaited “Until I Kill You” (formerly “Delia”) (4 x 60, produced by World Productions for ITV), a mini-series featuring talents like Anna Maxwell Martin, Shaun Evans, and Kevin Doyle, recounting Delia Balmer’s harrowing ordeal surviving a near-fatal relationship with the murderer John Sweeney. Another standout is “The Way” (3 x 60), a powerful drama created by Michael Sheen, James Graham, and Adam Curtis, delving into the social and political upheaval of today’s world.
Also featured is the gripping thriller “After The Flood” (6 x 60), produced by Quay Street Productions for ITV and BritBox International. The show portrays the transformative impact of a flood on a small town and its inhabitants. Additionally, the brand-new returnable drama “Human Error” (6 x 60) explores shocking crimes, intricate police investigations, and the myriad forces at play, while “After The Party” (6 x 60) chronicles the life of Penny Wilding, who accuses her husband of a sex crime, with no one believing her. Five years later, she faces the choice between the truth and rebuilding her relationship with her daughter.
The drama lineup also encompasses the darkly comedic thriller “Dead Hot” (6 x 60), written by Charlotte Coben and executive produced by Nicola Shindler, set against the backdrop of present-day Liverpool. Additionally, “Breathtaking” (3 x 60) provides a poignant account of a hospital doctor navigating the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Adapting Robert Thorogood’s international bestseller, writer of “Death in Paradise,” “The Marlow Murder Club” (4 x 60/2 x 120) offers a puzzling new murder mystery drama. Meanwhile, the groundbreaking anthology series “Erotic Stories” (8 x 30) brings contemporary, inclusive tales of love and desire to the screen.
Furthermore, the new drama “Infiltré” (6 x 60) delves into the world of organised crime and undercover policing in France. Based on investigative journalist Matthieu Suc’s book, “Spies of Terror” (4 x 60) offers a fictionalized exploration of the police and investigative efforts following the real-life terrorist attacks in 2015.
Completing the selection are the Cary Grant biopic “Archie” (4 x 60) and “Mr Bates vs Post Office” (4 x 60), a creation of BAFTA® award-winning producer Patrick Spence, which unveils an extraordinary tale of the greatest miscarriage of justice in British legal history.
