What does it take to showrun a series you also star in? Sharon Horgan tells DQ how her own life inspired Youth, a comedy about a woman in her 50s seeking sex and love while sandwiched between ageing parents and a should-be-grown-up son.
All posts by Michael Pickard
Karen Pirie S3: Star Lauren Lyle on returning to the ITV drama – and stepping up as an executive producer
Ahead of filming for the third season of ITV hit detective drama Karen Pirie, star Lauren Lyle tells DQ why she loves playing the show’s title character, how she’s building a bond with new head writer Gillian Roger Park and what she’s looking forward to most about stepping into an executive producer role on the series.
Reacher and Tracker actor Kathleen Robertson on showrunning hometown-set drama Blessed Sacrament
Canadian actor Kathleen Robertson is taking the next step in her showrunning career with Blessed Sacrament, a hospital-set family drama in which she also stars. She tells DQ how she got to this point, how she learned the ropes on Swimming with Sharks and why her goal is just to have fun.
Caught in the middle: Adultery star Leila Khan on ITV’s tale of forbidden romance
Leila Khan speaks to DQ about starring in new ITV drama Adultery, learning the ropes of making television on the set of Heartstopper and realising there was no acting required when she found herself filming on a rollercoaster.
Trial by fire: How first-time showrunner Kat Sandler brought her stage play Yaga to the small screen
As her play Yaga makes the leap to television, Canadian playwright-turned-showrunner Kat Sandler tells DQ about adapting her theatrical fairy-tale mystery, the TV series that inspired the show and why she never wants an audience to stop paying attention.
Traitors in their midst: Saul Dibb on directing season two of BBC crime drama This City is Ours
As BBC crime drama This City is Ours gets a third-season commission ahead of its second-season launch, director Saul Dibb speaks to DQ about returning to Merseyside to continue the story of the civil war inside a criminal organisation, his focus on authenticity and working with the show’s ensemble cast.
Cupertino calling: Creators Robert and Michelle King go back to court to disrupt the Silicon Valley disruptors
The Good Wife and The Good Fight creators Robert and Michelle King are back in court, this time taking on the titans of Silicon Valley in CBS drama Cupertino. Speaking to DQ as they finish writing the first season, they discuss their love of the law, backing the underdog and how technology is changing their own creative partnership. As the creators of shows such as In Justice, The Good Wife, The Good Fight and Elsbeth, Robert and Michelle King could be forgiven for thinking they had covered every aspect of legal drama on television. But as their new show Cupertino attests, they’ve found a new enthusiasm and direction for the genre by taking the battle to Silicon Valley, where AI and technology cultivated by just a handful of corporate giants are evolving faster than the law can keep up with. “Well, we always enjoy law shows,” Michelle tells DQ. “Personally, I’ve never been especially interested in shows where combat involves guns. I’d much rather watch smart people fight it out with words and argue things through, and law shows give us that opportunity.” “It felt like a world built for what we do because there’s a certain lawlessness that enters a gold rush town, a feeling that advancement and creating riches is more important than being held to a moral standard, an ethical standard, and it felt like a good place for the law show to go up against these people who think of themselves as invulnerable and untouchable,” Robert … Continue reading Cupertino calling: Creators Robert and Michelle King go back to court to disrupt the Silicon Valley disruptors
Telling tales with Tall Story Pictures and a decade of shows including seaside crime dramas Grace and The Bay
Celebrating 10 years of Tall Story Pictures, co-founder and creative director Catherine Oldfield speaks to DQ about creating a slate of hits, led by crime dramas Grace and The Bay, why she never wants to repeat herself and the importance of not taking the audience for granted. “Ten years? I’m pretty chuffed about that.” Catherine Oldfield co-founded Tall Story Pictures in 2016, having previously worked at Sally Head Productions (The Cry), at Monkey Kingdom as head of drama and scripted comedy and at Greenlit (Foyle’s War), before joining ITV Studios (ITVS) as a development producer. At ITVS, she was an executive producer on ITV dramas including Home Fires and Tutankhamun as part of the production group’s new scripted unit, which was rebranded as Tall Story Pictures a decade ago. Since then, she has partnered with writer Mike Bartlett on workplace dramas Trauma and Sticks & Stones and worked as an EP on Sean Cook’s Redemption and Kate Brooke’s crime drama Bancroft. The company also has two major returning series on its slate, with Grace recently filming its seventh season and The Bay set to return for S6. “Given the tidal wave effect of the industry, it’s something everyone at Tall Story can be really proud of,” Oldfield tells DQ about reaching the milestone in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the US actor and writers’ strikes and the general downturn in commissioning at the end of the Peak TV era. “We’ve weathered the headwinds of the market, which is probably … Continue reading Telling tales with Tall Story Pictures and a decade of shows including seaside crime dramas Grace and The Bay
Author Elizabeth Day and showrunner Sarah Solemani on organising The Party for ITV
ITV drama The Party is based on Elizabeth Day’s novel of the same name and written by showrunner Sarah Solemani. Speaking to DQ, they reflect on their collaboration, adapting the story for the screen and how Day reacted to seeing her characters brought to life by a cast including Luke Evans and Tom Cullen. Looking back on their shared journey making UK broadcaster ITV’s drama The Party, author Elizabeth Day and showrunner and writer Sarah Solemani share many of the same reactions. “I’m utterly giddy with delight,” Day tells DQ about seeing her own novel transformed for the small screen. “It’s an author’s dream to have their work adapted, but then to have it adapted by Sarah Solemani, who’s also starring in it, and to have this incredible cast and crew, and to see this new brilliant creative iteration, it’s utterly thrilling. I actually can’t believe it’s real. I am just unabashedly thrilled.” “It was a really profound experience. It was definitely a career highlight for me,” says Solemani. “I read the book. I found it so compelling. I found the class element particularly compelling. It’s the most enduring social power hierarchy in the Western world, if not in the world, and we were very British about it. We make jokes about it, make jokes about ourselves and each other. “The whole experience, thanks to Elizabeth’s trust and support, handing the baton to me so I could do my thing, and then handing the baton to Viviane Andereggen, who directed … Continue reading Author Elizabeth Day and showrunner Sarah Solemani on organising The Party for ITV
Archie Panjabi counts down to The Quiet Hour with writer Sarah Louise Madden and director Margo Roe
The latest instalment of 5 drama anthology Play for Today explores the desperate situation facing a nurse manning a hospital night shift. DQ speaks to star Archie Panjabi, writer Sarah Louise Madden and director Margo Roe about making the episode and the importance of championing fresh voices in television.
Surf’s up as Baywatch sets January 2027 date for television return
TRAILER: Baywatch returns to television in January 2027, featuring new characters but the same beach in a sequel to the long-running lifeguard drama that first aired from 1989 to 1999.
The new Baywatch – commissioned by Fox in the US – finds wild-child Hobie Buchannon (Stephen Amell) serving as a Baywatch Captain, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Mitch (played by David Hasselhoff in the original). Hobie’s world is turned upside down when his daughter Charlie Vale (Jessica Belkin) shows up on his doorstep eager to carry on the Buchannon family legacy.
The series also stars Hassie Harrison as Nat, Shay Mitchell as Trina, Thaddeus LaGrone as Brad, Noah Beck as Luke and Brooks Nader as Selene. In recurring roles, Livvy Dunne will make her acting debut as Grace and David Chokachi will reprise his original series character of Cody Madison.
Baywatch is coproduced by Fox Entertainment Studios and Fremantle with Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted) as showrunner and executive producer. McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz are executive producers. McG directed the series premiere.
Fox Entertainment Global holds domestic distribution rights, and Fremantle manages all international sales.
Inside Hunters: How director Mathieu Mortelmans led the dramatisation of Europe’s biggest manhunt
As Belgian drama Hunters completes post-production, director and showrunner Mathieu Mortelmans tells DQ how he dramatised a true story set between the Charlie Hebdo and Brussels terror attacks, how he filmed in the real locations and why he wanted to put the emotional toll on the operators at the centre of the story.
Breaking free: The Paz Brothers and Ariel Cohen on partnering for eight-part cult drama The Escape
As thriller The Escape launches in Israel, creators Doran and Yoav Paz and Ariel Cohen, along with Keshet’s Karni Ziv, tell DQ how they combined a cult story with a classic rescue narrative, what freedom really means and why they built a jungle compound from scratch.
Jimmy McGovern does more Time in the third season of his prison drama anthology
Acclaimed British writer Jimmy McGovern continues his prison-set drama Time with a three-part season set in the restless and unrelenting world of a young offender institution. DQ speaks to him, co-writer Samuel Bailey and director Paul Whittington about making S3 and why young people behind bars are in crisis.
Inside Australian crime drama Fortitude Valley with writers Hunter Page-Lochard, Stephen M Irwin and Leigh McGrath
Australian star Hunter Page-Lochard turns writer for the first time with crime drama Fortitude Valley. He joins showrunners Leigh McGrath and Stephen M Irwin to tell DQ how they developed this upcoming ABC series, which also shines a light on Brisbane’s history and stunning landscapes.
On set in Glasgow with Careless star Solly McLeod, executive producer Claire Mundell and director Stevie Cruz-Martin
Coming soon to audiences in the UK and Australia, Careless is the story of a young man who befriends a couple while working as their carer. But what is his hidden motive? DQ heads to Glasgow to watch filming on this provocative four-part thriller set between the Scottish city and Sydney.
Sharon Rooney and Emmett J Scanlan investigate 5’s An Impossible Way to Die
FIRST LOOK: Sharon Rooney and Emmett J Scanlan star in An Impossible Way to Die, a six-part thriller about a local detective thrust into the spotlight of a high-pressure murder investigation. It will air on 5 in 2027.
DS Katie Salter (Rooney) is happily solving everyday crimes until fate drags her into an impossible murder mystery. Four people sat around a table seemingly set for a dinner party – except they are all dead. The only clue is a scorpion crawling out of one of the victim’s mouths…
Salter is smart, diligent and committed to her family, but tensions quickly surface when she is partnered with DI Niall Conway (Scanlan), lead investigator on the case. Salter’s measured, grounded approach clashes with Conway’s all-consuming dedication to the job. At first, the two detectives appear fundamentally incompatible.
Yet, as the investigation deepens and the pressure intensifies, Conway begins to recognise the value of Salter’s empathy, optimism, and instinctive understanding of people. As the case grows increasingly impossible, secrets are unearthed and conspiracies emerge, lives are put at risk as the detectives race against time to connect seemingly disparate cases and unmask a killer before it’s too late.
Further cast includes Lois Chimimba, Jonny Lavelle and Ashley McGuire.
Exploring themes of identity, protection, power and corruption, the original series is produced by Clapperboard Studios (The Game, Girl Taken, Cooper & Fry) for 5, with DCD Rights handling international distribution.
The series is executive produced by Clapperboard MD Mike Benson and Myf Hopkins (Little Disasters, The Castaways) for Clapperboard Studios, and produced by Amber Howorth (Legends, When Joan Kissed Barbara). Adam Wimpenny (Hotel Portofino, Madonna & Basquiat) joins as director.
Writers include newcomers Robin Ganderton and Rowena Johnson, who have penned Episodes 1 and 5. Ciara Conway (The Teacher 3, Granite Harbour) has written Episodes 2 and 6, Jillian Mannion (Blood, Sex & Royalty, Death in Paradise) has written Episode 3, and David Persiva (The Teacher 3) has written Episode 4.
An Impossible Way to Die is expected to air on 5 in 2027.
tagged in: 5, An Impossible Way to Die, Clapperboard Studios, DCD Rights
House of Yang: Stefanie Ren opens the door to her Black Forest horror mystery
Creator Stefanie Ren explains how her German-Chinese roots shaped horror mystery House of Yang, while stars Purnima Grätz and Andrea Guo discuss what the series could mean for Asian representation on German television.
BBC hires The Last Detectives for new crime drama
FIRST LOOK: Mark Lewis-Jones and Steffan Rhodri head the cast of The Last Detectives, an upcoming BBC police drama set against the backdrop of Tenby and the Pembrokeshire coastline in Wales.
The six-part series follows a team of detectives led by DI Glyn Walsh (Jones) and DS Sion Dearden (Rhodri), investigative partners whose instinctive understanding of one another proves invaluable as they navigate a success of murders with unexpected twists and long-buried secrets lurking beneath the town’s picturesque surface.
The detectives are joined by DC Remy Jones (Bethan Mary-James), DC Neil Miller (Jordan Davies) and forensic biologist Pamela Thomas (Julie Graham).
With each case spanning across two episodes, the drama explores themes of new beginnings and second chances as the team confront fresh challenges, personal crossroads and truths that refuse to stay buried.
Formerly known as Old Town Murders, the series is written, created and executive produced by Matthew Barry (Men Up, The Guest) and produced by Quay Street Productions for BBC iPlayer and BBC One in a co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales.
Davina Earl (Men Up, The Guest) and Nicola Shindler (Fool Me Once, Tip Toe) are executive producers for Quay Street Productions, with Rebecca Ferguson as executive producer for the BBC and co-commissioner alongside Nick Andrews for BBC Wales.
Hannah Daniel (Mudtown, Burial) writes episode 4. Andy Newbery (Heartstopper) directs episodes 1-4 and is executive producer while Rhys Carter (Mudtown) directs episodes 5 and 6. Guy Hescott (Run Away, The Red King) is series producer.
The Last Detectives is distributed internationally by ITV Studios.
tagged in: BBC iPlayer, BBC One, ITV Studios, Matthew Barry, Quay Street Productions, The Last Detectives
Open Water writer-director Caleb Azumah Nelson on bringing his own novel to television for the BBC
As production wraps on upcoming BBC drama Open Water, writer-director Caleb Azumah Nelson discusses adapting his own novel, the love story at its heart and learning to embrace filmmaking as a collaborative art.