On February 23, the London TV Screenings commenced, showcasing a variety of new programming and deals.
Tall Tales & Murder Gains International Attention
Germany’s ZDF and Australia’s SBS have secured the rights to the much-anticipated drama Tall Tales & Murder through a partnership with Avalon. This dark comedy has garnered a two-season commitment from both BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ.
The series features a talented cast, including Ella Lily Hyland (known for Black Doves), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), Philippa Dunne (Amandaland), and Packy Lee (Peaky Blinders).
Written by Stuart Carolan (Love/Hate) and co-created with Chris Addison (Veep), the show is inspired by Caimh McDonnell’s eight-book Dublin Trilogy. Avalon, known for productions like Breeders and Starstruck, is handling production and distribution in collaboration with Ireland’s Metropolitan Pictures (Kin).
Warner Bros. International Television Production Reveals New Titles
Warner Bros. International Television Production has unveiled its lineup for the London TV Screenings, featuring notable titles such as an Ian McKellen special and the UK format See You in Court.
Among the highlights is L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes, where McKellen lip-syncs to the words of the renowned UK artist. Additionally, See You in Court aims to assist in resolving significant disputes that could otherwise take years in the legal system.
Another addition is Class Clowns, a production from WBITVP Australia for ABC, where comedians compete in various classic school activities.
The slate also includes Reality Queens of the Jungle: Family Edition, a reality franchise from WBITVP Netherlands, which features familiar reality stars accompanied by their family members in a jungle setting.
Distribution Deal for Microdrama Producer COL Group
Narativ Media, based in the UAE, has been appointed as the distributor for microdrama producer COL Group across the MENA, Africa, and CIS regions. This announcement was made during MIP London.
Narativ will oversee market development, platform partnerships, broadcaster relations, and digital monetization for COL, which boasts a catalogue of over 1,700 microdrama titles and AI-driven animation assets.
BBC Announces New Drama Projects
BBC drama director Lindsay Salt has awarded a debut commission to Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn’s Hot Sauce Pictures, while also approving projects from Clerkenwell and Drama Republic.
Patterson and Lawn, known for their work on The Salisbury Poisonings and Blue Lights, are set to executive produce D-Notice. They established Hot Sauce in 2022 and later received investment from Sony Pictures Television.
Clerkenwell’s Shy & Lola, a dark comedy for BBC1, is based on the French drama Cheyenne and Lola, written by Virginie Brac and produced by Lincoln TV and StudioCanal.
Drama Republic is producing 1536, an 8 x 30-minute series inspired by Ava Pickett’s play, which is set to debut in the West End this summer.
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