Channel 5 Orders Series on Cocaine Use in the U.K.

Channel 5 has commissioned the documentary series Cocaine: Britain’s Epidemic (working title), produced by VICE Studios UK.

The three-part series, which is currently in production, is VICE Studios’ first third-party commission. It follows the U.K.’s growing obsession with cocaine, offering fresh insight and access into the drug world, from the users, the dealers and the addicts, as well as from those individuals who are trying to stop the spread of the drug. Each episode will have its own distinct focus and will follow a small group of main contributors. The series will transmit on Channel 5 later this year.

Guy Davies, the commissioning editor for factual at Channel 5, said, “This latest hard-hitting documentary series tackles another major issue affecting millions of people in Britain today. The use of cocaine has moved from elite party drug into the mainstream and many believe we’re in the grip of an epidemic. VICE Studios has found a way into this world and we’re thrilled to be working with them on this documentary series, presenting shocking new facts around the drug and its ever-growing popularity.”

Kevin Sutcliffe, the managing director of VICE Studios UK, commented, “Leaning on VICE UK’s long-standing reputation of producing unvarnished, access-based programming and hard-hitting journalism, Cocaine marks an ideal first third-party commission for VICE Studios UK, as we look to create a broad range of impactful content for new audiences. In working with Channel 5, we’re excited to be unveiling fascinating and often shocking new insights into the drug’s distribution and usage, and explore how it affects all facets of U.K. society, spanning the rich, poor, old and young.”