Fresh on the heels of ordering a new police drama series titled By Any Mean, BBC One has revealed a host of new commissions for 2013. The broadcaster has ordered four new dramas for next year, as well as expressing a continued commitment to continuing drama series including EastEnders, Holby, Casualty and Waterloo Road.
In announcing the commissions, Ben Stephenson, the BBC’s Controller of Drama, said: “2012 has been a record-breaking and award-winning year for BBC Drama and our new 31 hours of programming illustrates our sheer dedication to British Drama. The BBC commissions more drama than any other broadcaster with over 450 hours of drama a year delivering a range of high quality, creative, ambitious television. We are the home of British Drama and combine the UK’s hottest talent both on and off screen to produce the highest quality programmes that aim to up the ambition and scale of our output.”
Full Details Of The Four New Dramas Follows Below:
What Remains
A new four part drama created by Inside Men scribe Tony Basgallop, What Remains has been described as a “whodunit”. The drama picks up just as the body of Melissa Young, a 30-year-old single woman, is found decomposed in the loft above her flat two years after her death. How is it that no one missed her, or even noticed that she was gone? What does that say about the life she lived or the society we occupy? And is her killer still at large? What Remains is being produced by BBC Drama Production, the executive producer is Hilary Salmon.
The Escape Artist
Created by Spooks scribe David Wolstencroft and produced by Endor Productions, The Escape Artist is a three part drama which revolves around Will Burton, a talented junior barrister of peerless intellect and winning charm who specialises in spiriting people out of tight legal corners. He is in high demand as he has never lost a case. But when his talents acquit the notorious prime suspect in an horrific murder trial, that brilliance comes back to bite him with unexpected and chilling results, not to mention a shocking twist in the tale. Hilary Bevan Jones and Paul Frift are producing, the executive producer is Matthew Read.
The Great Train Robbery
The Great Train Robbery is a new two part drama from Chris Chibnall which tells the story of the infamous robbery. The two part drama tells the stories behind the most infamous heist in British history on its 50th anniversary: ‘The Robbers’ Tale’ tells the story of the gang whose audacious crime secured unheard of wealth and the wrath of the Establishment. While ‘The Coppers’ Tale’ tells the story of Tommy Butler and the crack team of detectives he assembled in his relentless quest to bring the robbers to justice. World Productions is producing, Simon Heath and Poly Hill are executive producing, while James Strong is attached to direct.
Happy Valley
Created by Sally Wainwright and produced by Red Production Company, Happy Valley is a new six part drama series which follows Catherine Crowther, a police sergeant who is on duty when flustered, nervous-looking accountant Colin Weatherill comes into her West Yorkshire police station to report a crime. She’s reticent about the details and Colin loses his nerve. The crime he was trying to report was Colin’s own brain-child, a plot to kidnap his boss’s daughter and keep enough of the ransom to put his kids through private school. And now local drug king-pin David Cowgill has put the plan into action, and Colin’s fantasy has become a grim and dangerous reality. The botched kidnapping of eccentric, angry Ann Gallagher and its fallout unfolds. Catherine is used to picking up the pieces of everyone else’s lives but the hunt for Ann Gallagher will get right under her skin. Catherine becomes convinced that only by finding Ann alive and bringing her captors to justice can she avenge the death of her daughter. The executive producers are Nicola Shindler and Matthew Read.
