All3Media International Strikes The Gold Deals

All3Media International has signed new deals around the world for BBC’s The Gold, inspired by the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery in London.

PBS’s Masterpiece has picked up the TV rights for both seasons of the series for the U.S. and English-speaking Canada, while CBC Gem acquired the VOD rights for English-speaking Canada. Platforms and broadcasters in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Estonia and Asia also signed on to air the series.

Seasons one and two were picked up by MagentaTV/Telekom in Germany, Stan in Australia, Rialto Channel in New Zealand and ERR in Estonia. BBC Studios took both seasons in a pan-territory seal covering Asia and India for its SVOD drama channel BBC First and its multi-genre SVOD service BBC Player.

The Gold, written by Neil Forsyth (Guilt; Eric, Ernie & Me) and produced by Tannadice Pictures, centers on the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery, in which six armed men broke into the Brink’s-Mat security depot near London’s Heathrow Airport and inadvertently stumbled across gold bullion worth £26 million. The disposal of the bullion led to a vast international money laundering operation, provided the dirty money that helped fuel the London Docklands property boom, united blue- and white-collar criminals and left controversy and murder in its wake. Season two takes place after the conviction of some of those involved in the theft and handling of the gold. The police realize that those criminals only ever had half of it, and the seasons explores what happened to the other half and the criminal fortune it created.

The series features a cast including Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington in Peru), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Dominic Cooper (The Devil’s Double), Charlotte Spencer (The Duke), Emun Elliott (Guilt), Tom Cullen (Becoming Elizabeth), Stefanie Martini (The Last Kingdom) and Amanda Drew (Ellis).

Season one is directed by Academy Award-winning Aneil Karia (The Long Goodbye) and Lawrence Gough (The Last Bus), and season two is directed by Patrick Harkins (Tin Star, Guilt).

“Masterpiece is thrilled to be bringing Neil Forsyth’s exceptional storytelling to our viewers with seasons one and two of The Gold,” said Susanne Simpson, Masterpiece’s head of scripted content and executive producer. “We cannot wait to showcase this thrilling tale of an epic real-life heist, featuring a stellar cast led by Hugh Bonneville, Jack Lowden, Dominic Cooper, Tom Cullen, Charlotte Spencer and Emun Elliott.”

Sally Habbershaw, executive VP of the Americas at All3Media International, added, “It’s fantastic to see North America embracing this genuinely fascinating drama inspired by true events. With its stylish narrative, outstanding on-screen performances and acclaimed creative team, The Gold brings this audacious heist vividly to life, revealing how the proceeds of the crime filtered through all layers of society, with far-reaching and often tragic consequences. The Gold has already proved a hit with viewers and critics alike in the U.K., and we’re confident the first season and the highly anticipated second season will be just as popular on the global stage.”