PBS Distribution Boards Detective Drama Ridley

All3Media International has secured a new distribution deal with PBS Distribution for the detective drama Ridley, produced by West Road Pictures.

Per the deal, PBS Distribution will represent the series in North America. It has already been presold in Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand. Starring Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty, Blood) in the title role, Ridley is slated to premiere on ITV in the U.K.

Produced in association with All3Media International, Ridley centers on Detective Inspector Alex Ridley, who has retired from the police after 20 years. Now working in a consultancy role, his former protégée DI Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh; Unforgotten, The Fall) turns to him for help on a complex murder investigation.

In addition to Dunbar, Ridley stars Terence Maynard (Time, Coronation Street), George Bukhari (Years and Years, The A Word), Georgie Glen (The Crown, Call the Midwife), Bhavna Limbachia (Citizen Khan, Coronation Street), Aidan McArdle (The Holiday, The Trial of Christine Keeler) and Julie Graham (Shetland, Penance).

Ridley is written and created by Paul Matthew Thompson (Vera). It is co-created by Jonathan Fisher (Blood, Hollington Drive), managing director of West Road Pictures. Executive producers are Matthew Thompson, Fisher and Ingrid Goodwin (Blood, Penance), and directors are Bryn Higgins, Noreen Kershaw and Paul Gay.

Available as four two-hour episodes, Ridley is set to air on NPO in the Netherlands, and VRT will air it in Flemish Belgium. BritBox has secured exclusive rights in Australia, Pumpkin TV has signed VOD rights for China, and RLJ Entertainment has secured DVD/video rights for Australia and New Zealand.

Sally Habbershaw, executive VP for the Americas at All3Media International, said, “We’re delighted to welcome PBS Distribution on board as our U.S. partner on Ridley and to also announce a host of further deals with these early presales. With its top-notch cast and crew, engaging stories and flexible duration options—two-hour dramas are always in particularly strong demand internationally—Ridley promises to be an exciting new original prime-time drama for global audiences. West Road Pictures has assembled a superb lineup of talent whose credits include some of the most successful detective dramas on TV in recent years, so we can’t wait to see Adrian Dunbar and Bronagh Waugh bring these compelling characters and investigations to life.”