BBC Studios’s stars of Outrageous, the brand-new drama from Firebird Pictures, co-commissioned by UKTV and BritBox International, will head to Mipcom to launch the series. Six-part original series forms part of the scripted offering for international buyers which includes Death Valley, The Split: Barcelona, Return to Paradise and Reunion.
On-screen stars Bessie Carter (Bridgerton), Joanna Vanderham (Crime), Joshua Sasse (Love is in the Air, Galavant) and James Purefoy (The Veil, Malpractice), are joining in Cannes by showwriter and creator Sarah Williams (Small Island, Flesh and Blood, The Long Song) and Executive Producer from Firebird Pictures, Liz Kilgarriff (The Jetty) to introduce international buyers to the six-part original series.
Outrageous is based on Mary Lovell’s definitive biography, The Mitford Girls, and tells the story of six aristocratic sisters who refused to play by the rules, their often-scandalous lives making headlines around the world. Set against the gathering storm clouds of the 1930s, masked by the decadence, frivolity and lavishness of British high society, Outrageous will bring the full, uncensored story of the Mitford sisters to the screen for the first time – a story of family bonds and betrayals, public scandal, political extremism, love, heartache and even imprisonment.
Janet Brown, President US Distribution, BBC Studios said: ‘With award-winning writers, renowned and upcoming on-screen talent and unparalleled production labels at the helm, each of the standout titles forming BBC Studios’ scripted slate this year delivers on our commitment to bring unique and compelling storytelling to audiences across the globe. We’re thrilled to be bringing to Mipcom some of our incredibly talented cast and two brilliant creative minds behind one of these new shows, Outrageous, which is destined to be the latest period drama everyone is talking about’.
Other new scripted titles that BBC Studios will be distributing at Mipcom include, Death Valley, The Split: Barcelona, Reunion and Return to Paradise.
Produced by Warp Films and written and executive produced by William Mager, a deaf writer originally from Sheffield, Reunion (6×50’) is an emotional thriller of revenge and redemption. Set in Sheffield it follows the journey of Daniel Brennan (Matthew Gurney – Name Me Lawand, Theatre Ad Infinium, Coffee Morning Club) a deaf man determined to right his wrongs, while unravelling the truth behind the events that led him to prison. The series also stars Anne-Marie Duff (Bad Sisters, The Salisbury Poisonings, Suffragette), Eddie Marsan (Back to Black, Ray Donovan), Rose Ayling-Ellis (Summer of Rockets, As You like It, EastEnders) and Lara Peake (How to Have Sex). Reunion is a bilingual series featuring both British Sign Language (BSL) and spoken English.
Written by Paul Doolan (Mammoth, Trollied) BBC Studios Comedy Productions’ Death Valley (6×45’) follows the unlikely crime-solving partnership between eccentric national treasure John Chapel (BAFTA winner Timothy Spall – The Sixth Commandment, Mr Turner), a retired actor and star of hit fictional detective TV show ‘Caesar’, and disarming Welsh detective sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth – Alex Rider, Hidden). Thrown together by the murder of John’s neighbour, John and Janie are an odd, yet hilarious duo with opposing instincts. Every week, they get to the bottom of gripping murders, in stunning Welsh locations.
The BAFTA and Emmy award winning Abi Morgan and SISTER are joining forces again. After the success of three series of The Split, the hit legal drama returns with a two-part special The Split: Barcelona (2 x 60’) to explore the themes of love, legacy, and modern marriage, through a sparkling cast of characters that audiences know and love. Set two years on from series three, formidable family lawyer Hannah Defoe (Nicola Walker) and her family are back and have gathered for a beautiful wedding at a magnificent vineyard, nestled in Catalonia’s wine region. Set across one sun-soaked weekend, The Split: Barcelona will encompass break-ups, reunions and like all good weddings, plenty of romance.
The latest addition to the ‘Paraverse’, BBC Studios Productions Australia and Red Planet Picturesproduced Return to Paradise (6×55’) follows DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who’s made a name for herself in London’s Metropolitan Police for cracking uncrackable murder cases. When she is accused of tampering with evidence, Mackenzie returns to Australia, where she reluctantly joins the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station, having fled the town six years ago, infamously leaving her ex- fiancée Glenn at the altar. Mackenzie is not welcome back but once a case lands on her desk, she can’t rest until she’s figured it out, and the killer is in handcuffs. It’s that tenacity and work ethic that might just, over time, help Mackenzie win over her new colleagues, the people of Dolphin Cove and maybe even her ex- fiancée.
BBC Studios will participate in a number of scripted sessions during the market. Matt Forde, MD, Global Entertainment will take part in a scripted formats panel, “Producer and Distributor Collaboration in the Remake Process”, at 14:30 in the Producer’s Hub on Monday 21st October.
Elsewhere on Tuesday 22nd October between 08:30 – 09:30, Rebecca Ransley, SVP Scripted EMEA will be at the Producers Hub joined by a whole host of other producers and distributors across the industry shaping today’s international drama in the “Co-Production Breakfast Roundtables”.
Meanwhile Lawrence Szabo, Executive Vice President, U.S. Content Distribution, will be participating in “YA – The Secret Sauce Behind Success” on Wednesday 23rd October, 14:30-15:00, discussing the success of the international co-production for A Good Girls Guide to Murder.
BBC Studios will be located at P0.E1 within the Palais des Festivals Verrière section at the market.
