Channel 5 Commissions Psychological Thriller Under Her Skin

Channel 5 has ordered the four-part psychological thriller Under Her Skin (w.t.), with Jo Joyner (Stay Close, Ackley Bridge) and Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small) starring.

The show follows Laura, who has the perfect family on paper, and Emily, a charismatic stranger who notices the cracks in Laura’s veneer and becomes bent on exploiting them. Emily nurtures Laura’s neuroses about her ability as a mother, fuels tensions in her marriage and reignites an old flame from her past.

Under Her Skin is being produced by Gaumont, in partnership with Banijay Rights for international distribution. It is written and created by Jo Rogers (The Colony), who also serves as associate producer. Adrian McDowall (The Last Czars, Willow) is director. Executive producers for Gaumont are Alison Jackson and Jessica Connell.

The series has begun filming in Malta and is set to air in 2023.

Jackson said: “We are thrilled to bring this contemporary, provocative story to life in our first project with Channel 5. Jo Joyner and Rachel Shenton are a hugely dynamic duo, and we can’t wait to see them bring these characters to life.”

Joyner commented: “I’m really looking forward to working on this gripping thriller for Channel 5. It is really great to be working with Gaumont, an almost exclusively female team, and I feel this is reflected in the brilliant scripts. There is such a contradiction with the character of Laura, so focused and organized in her work life and yet chaotic and insecure with her home life. I feel it really resonates. I am so looking forward to working with Rachel Shenton and for us to bring these two flawed women to the screen.”

Shenton added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of Under Her Skin. Jo Rogers has created such a dark and compelling story that has two women at its center. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to bring Emily to life; she’s wild.”

Paul Testar, commissioning editor for Channel 5, said: “I’m so excited that we are working with the esteemed teams at Gaumont and Banijay Rights to bring this gripping psychological thriller to the Channel 5 audience. With such a strong script and an outstanding cast led by Jo Joyner and Rachel Shenton, fans of Channel 5 thrillers will love sinking their teeth into this.”