ZDFE Crime Series Headed to BBC Four

CANNES/MAINZ: ZDF Enterprises has sold the Scandinavian crime series The Bridge and Sebastian Bergman to BBC Four for a 2012 debut. 

The Bridge, a Danish/Swedish co-production, is a ten-part investigative crime drama. The series kicks off as the body of a woman is found on a bridge between Sweden and Denmark, and a bi-national team is assembled to help solve the crime. The 2×100-minute HD Sebastian Bergman is a police thriller, starring Rolf Lassgard (Wallander). He plays a strong-headed profiler who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his wife and daughter. 

Sue Deeks, the head of BBC program acquisition, said: “Both The Bridge and Sebastian Bergman are character-based, suspense-filled murder mysteries, with a cinematic atmosphere and style. Following in footsteps of Spiral, Wallander and The Killing, they are outstanding additions to BBC Four’s slate of European crime drama.”

Alexander Coridass, the president and CEO of ZDF Enterprises, added: “This new contract proves that programs from continental Europe have an audience in the  English-speaking market. BBC Four celebrated enormous success among viewers and critics alike with The Killing—despite being broadcast in Danish, the original language, with English subtitles. I am sure that BBC Four will be able to  follow up this success with The Bridge and Sebastian Bergman.”