Rob Lowe to Star in New ITV Commission

ITV has commissioned from 42, Shiver and Anonymous Content a new crime drama that will be toplined by Rob Lowe.

The six-part Wild Bill will star Lowe as a high-flying American cop who is appointed as Chief Constable of the East Lincolnshire Police Force. Lowe will also serve as an executive producer on the project, which is the first collaboration between 42, Anonymous Content and Shiver. ITV Studios Global Entertainment will handle international distribution.

Lowe said: “As an actor, ‘Wild Bill’ is a larger-than-life character who’s outrageously articulate, has nothing to lose and revels in being an American fish out of water. As an executive producer, I’m excited to work with such talented partners and to come back to work in the U.K., which I always love.”

Writers and creators Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton said, “Wild Bill gives us a chance to write about modern Britain and modern crime through unique eyes. We wrote this for Rob Lowe, for his smart-talking, anarchic, soulful voice. Displacing Rob in Brexit Britain and specifically, in Boston, Lincolnshire, allows us to tell stories that are leftfield and unexpected. We wanted to write something that couldn’t take place anywhere else, or at any other time.”

Polly Hill, head of drama at ITV, added, “I’m delighted to have Wild Bill on ITV, as it’s a really fresh take on police procedure and introduces a brilliant new cop to be played by the wonderful Rob Lowe. It’s a fantastic team and an exciting new drama for next year.”