Channel 5 Adds to Original Drama Slate

In the latest phase of its revamped scripted strategy, Channel 5 has unveiled a new slate of original dramas coming to the channel, including The Small Hand (working title).

Awesome Media & Entertainment and Two Rivers Media have joined forces to bring Susan Hill’s The Small Hand: A Ghost Story to Channel 5. It marks Awesome’s first book-to-screen commission and heralds Two Rivers’ move into drama. The thriller comes to Channel 5 as a two-hour feature, adapted by writer Barbara Machin (Waking the Dead).

West Road Pictures’ Penance is written and created by Kate O’Riordan (Mr Selfridge) and inspired by her novel of the same title. The 3×1-hour psychological thriller follows the lives of Rosalie and Luke Douglas and their teenage daughter, Maddie. Following the loss of their son, Rosalie and Luke find their marriage under immense strain. Maddie and Rosalie end up in the caring hands of Jed, a charming and charismatic young man that they encounter at bereavement counseling who is also suffering under the weight of his own grief. Jed rekindles hope for the future within the Douglas household.

Another thriller to air on C5 in 2020 is The Deceived. Written by Lisa McGee (Derry Girls, Being Human) and Tobias Beer, the contemporary psychological thriller is from New Pictures (The Missing). The central character in The Deceived is English student Ophelia, who falls in love with her married lecturer. When their affair results in a shocking and tragic death, Ophelia finds herself trapped in a world where she can no longer trust her own mind.

Returning for a second series, Blood has been commissioned by Virgin Media Television in Ireland, with Channel 5 serving as the U.K. broadcaster. Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty) is confirmed to reprise his leading role, alongside Grainne Keenan (The Foreigner). Furthermore, Ian Lloyd Anderson (Love/Hate), Fiona Bell (Shetland) and Denis Conway (The Bailout) are confirmed to join the original cast for season two.