Irish Drama Smother Set for UKTV’s Alibi

UKTV has licensed the U.K. broadcast rights for the new RTÉ drama Smother for Alibi.

Smother is an Irish investigative thriller about the secrets families keep from each other. It stars Dervla Kirwan (The Stranger, Safe House) and Seána Kerslake (Hole in the Ground) and is created by Kate O’Riordan (Penance, Mr Selfridge).

Smother is produced by BBC Studios Production Drama North and Scotland in partnership with Dublin-based Treasure Entertainment, in association with Screen Ireland.

Charlie Charalambous, UKTV’s global acquisitions manager, said: “We couldn’t be happier to be working with our friends at BBC Studios to bring this hugely exciting series to the U.K. Smother is a fantastic addition to our upcoming slate of UKTV exclusive acquisitions.”

Emma Ayech, Alibi channel director, added: “This has everything that Alibi viewers love: intrigue, danger, family drama and some incredible talent involved on both sides of the camera. We can’t wait to try and uncover the mysteries of Smother every week.”

Michael Parke, executive producer BBC Studios, said: “Smother puts a mother at the heart of an investigation into the dark secrets in her own family. Kate O’Riordan’s drama explores the deep-rooted, primal maternal instinct to protect no matter what the cost. Smother is a bold, twisty and compelling domestic thriller and we are delighted to be sitting alongside the finest of crime dramas on Alibi.”

Robert Walpole, producer for Treasure Entertainment, said: “Smother is a complex and gripping family drama which presents a truly modern vision of rural Ireland and showcases an ensemble of really great new and established on-screen talent. Alibi is a really great fit for the show and we are thrilled that they are bringing it to U.K. audiences”