Channel 5 Greenlights Four-Part Series Coma

Channel 5 has greenlit the four-part thriller Coma (w.t.) from Roughcut Television and CBS Studios.

Starring Jason Watkins (The Catch), the drama centers on a devoted family man who finds himself at a breaking point as his neighborhood falls victim to the terrorizing antics of a group of teens. Desperate to move his young daughter to a safer area, his frustration peaks as he confronts the group’s 17-year-old leader, and a split-second decision changes everything.

In addition to Watkins, the cast features Joe Barber, Claire Skinner (Outnumbered, McDonalds & Dodds, Murder They Hope), David Bradley (After Life, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones), Jonas Armstrong (The Drowning, The Bay, Edge of Tomorrow), Kayla Meikle (Time 2, Litvinenko, Small Axe) and David Mumeni (Dead Pixels, Stath Lets Flats, No Return).

Coma, written and created by Ben Edwards (Miss Scarlett and the Duke, The Good Karma Hospital, Stella), began filming this month and is set to air on Channel 5 in 2024. Michael Samuels (Close to Me, Any Human Heart, The Man in the Orange Shirt) directs.

Paramount Global Content Distribution will handle international distribution.

Paul Testar, commissioning editor at Channel 5 and Paramount+, said: “Coma is a provocative thriller that asks the audience: What would I do? It’s the story of a good man who does one bad thing that causes his life to spiral out of control. We are excited to be working with Roughcut and CBS Studios to bring this intense and gripping tale to Channel 5 viewers and are thrilled to have the fantastic Jason Watkins leading the cast.”

Watkins said: “I cannot wait to get stuck into playing Simon in Coma. This character faces an agonizing situation that will keep viewers questioning their own morals. I’m sure it will be a thrilling and emotionally charged experience.”

Alex Smith, executive producer for Roughcut Television, added: “We’re so excited to launch our new drama slate with Coma, a truly gripping domestic thriller, following Simon—a normal guy next door, swallowed up by the fallout from one moment of madness.”

Lindsey Martin, senior VP of international co-productions and development at CBS Studios, commented: “Coma is a propulsive and universal series that will undoubtedly resonate with viewers globally. We are thrilled to collaborate with Channel 5 and Roughcut Television and can’t wait to see Jason Watkins and the brilliant cast bring this riveting story to life on-screen.”