Scripted

FIFTH SEASON has closed the first round of international sales for The Blame, a six-part crime drama produced by Quay Street Productions in association with FIFTH SEASON for ITV. The deals span Europe, the Middle East and New Zealand, expanding the series’ international distribution footprint following its UK debut. The newly announced buyers include SVT (Sweden), TV 2 (Norway), Sky (New Zealand), RTV Slovenija (Slovenia), Hot and yes (Israel), OSN+ (MENA), VTM (Belgium), RTÉ (Ireland), NOS (Portugal) and Pickbox (Balkans).
Starring Michelle Keegan (Fool Me Once, Brassic) and Douglas Booth (The Sandman, The Dirt), the series premiered on ITV and ITVX in the UK in September. Its peak episode reached a consolidated audience of 8.3 million viewers on ITVX, making it the biggest new drama of the year across any channel or streamer.

Based on Charlotte Langley’s debut novel of the same name, The Blame is a 6 x 60-minute drama from Quay Street Productions, part of ITV Studios. Megan Gallagher (All Her Fault, Wolf), an Emmy Award nominee, adapted the novel for television and serves as executive producer. The series follows DI Emma Crane (Keegan) and DI Tom Radley (Booth) as they investigate a death that sends shockwaves through the town of Wakestead. What begins as a tragic incident develops into a murder investigation involving lies, institutional cover-ups and moral compromise. As the investigation unfolds, Crane must contend with both the case and the internal politics of her own team.

Kate Laffey, SVP Acquisitions at FIFTH SEASON, said: “Anchored by Michelle and Douglas’s exceptional performances, The Blame is exactly the kind of propulsive detective thriller that cuts through - and has hooked UK audiences in and kept them guessing since launching. Buyers and audiences continue seeking out compelling crime stories such as this, with plenty of twists and turns and brilliantly layered characters. Our strong roster of international broadcasters now on board understores The Blame’s vast appeal and we know it will entertain audiences everywhere.”