A+E Networks UK has closed a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution to acquire the 13 episode second season of scripted drama Witches Of East End for their female skewing Lifetime UK.
Inspired by the book of the same name, Witches of East End was penned by Maggie Friedman and centers on the mysterious Beauchamp family, immortal witches who possess great untapped powers. The drama series is produced by Fox 21 and stars Julia Ormond (Mad Men), Mädchen Amick (Damages), Jenna Dewan Tatum (American Horror Story), Rachel Boston (In Plain Sight), Eric Winter (The Mentalist), Daniel DiTomasso (CSI), Jason George (Grey’s Anatomy) and Madsen (Anna Nicole). Joining the cast as a regular for season two is Christian Cooke (Magic City).
In the show’s second season, which will air on Lifetime UK later this year, the portal to Asgard is now open and what comes through will forever change the lives of the Beauchamps. Darkness surrounds East End as a new stranger (Christian Cooke) arrives. Joanna is still weak with poison in her blood as the Beauchamps search desperately for a cure. With the death of Penelope (Virginia Madsen), Killian (DiTomasso) and Dash’s (Winter) warlock powers return.
This new deal between A+E Networks UK and Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution follows on from the initial deal between the two companies for the show’s first season, which was inked in September 2013, ahead of the launch of Lifetime UK. Witches Of East End proved to be a hit for Lifetime UK. The premiere episode reached an audience of more than one million viewers and the series currently ranks as Lifetime UK’s number one scripted series.
“With its great story-telling and amazing cast, Witches of East End has been hugely popular with the Lifetime audience”, said A+E Networks UK’s Vice-President of Programming Heather Jones, who brokered the deal with Fox. “We’re very excited to be bringing it back for a second series and are sure that the adventures of the Beauchamp family will continue to entertain our viewers.”
While Stephen Cornish, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director of Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, added: “Witches of East End has been a hit with viewers both in the UK and US so this deal is fantastic news. Fox and A+E Networks UK are very excited about the agreement and we can’t wait to show UK audiences the brand new series.”
