STV WINS SIX PART DRAMA COMMISSION FROM CHANNEL 4

Embargoed until 27 August 2020

STV WINS SIX PART DRAMA COMMISSION FROM CHANNEL 4 - SCREW

STV Studios announces today (27 August) that it has won a six-part drama commission from Channel 4.  The prison series - SCREW - will be filmed in 2021 and is written by Rob Williams (The Victim, Killing Eve).

SCREW is prison as never seen before - the uncensored, terrifying and often darkly funny reality of life as a prison officer in an all-male prison in 21^st century Britain. At the centre of our gang of embattled officers is senior officer Leigh and new recruit Rose, two women who couldn't be more different but who both carry secrets which, if discovered, could end careers and even lives.

SCREW sees the production business once again join forces with the writer of critically acclaimed four-part thriller The Victim, Rob Williams - a collaboration which resulted in a BAFTA nomination for Best Mini Series and saw leading actress, Kelly Macdonald, win a BAFTA Scotland Award.

The commission follows the considerable success of STV Studios' 2019 drama, Elizabeth is Missing, which also received five star reviews and delivered significant audiences for BBC One.  TV film Elizabeth is Missing, featuring two time Academy Award winner Glenda Jackson, was met with universal acclaim and has garnered numerous awards and nominations. It was shortlisted for a BAFTA TV Award in the Single Drama category in 2020, and Glenda Jackson won the prestigious leading actress BAFTA for her exceptional performance.

Writer and Creator Rob Williams said: "SCREW is a real passion for me; I've wanted to write about prisons ever since teaching in that environment in a former life.  I've maintained close links since then and the idea has grown.  After the experience of working with Sarah Brown and her team at STV Studios on The Victim, I wouldn't want to pursue a project that means so much to me with anybody else.  I feel very lucky to be working with Channel 4 on the show and I can't wait to introduce the world of SCREW to as wide an audience as possible."

Sarah Brown, Creative Director of Drama and Executive Producer for STV Studios said: "Following our successful collaboration on The Victim, we're thrilled to be teaming up again with the supremely talented Rob Williams to bring his latest series to the screen for Channel 4. I know audiences will fall in love with his funny, anarchic, memorable characters and be captivated once again by his brilliant storytelling. In Channel 4, we have the perfect partners to bring Rob's bold and totally authentic portrayal of prison life to TV, and we're also delighted to be working with the fantastic team at Banijay on distribution."

Banijay Rights will manage global distribution of Screw.  Chris Stewart, Commercial Director - Scripted, Banijay Rights, added: "The prison precinct has always held a special fascination for audiences everywhere and we're excited to be partnering with STV and Channel 4 on SCREW; which promises to bring a fresh perspective to a maligned and misunderstood world through the eyes of Rob Williams' insightfully crafted characters."

SCREW is an STV Studios production for Channel 4, commissioned by Caroline Hollick, Channel 4 Head of Drama and overseen by Lee Mason, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor and Gemma Boswell, Channel 4 Head of Development.  Rob Williams is Creator, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, with Karla Crome (The Stranger) joining the writing team. Sarah Brown is Executive Producer for STV Studios (The Victim, Elizabeth is Missing) and Brian Kaczynski, Producer (The Cry, Peaky Blinders).

Media contact:

Kirstin Stevenson, STV Studios

07803 970106 / [email protected]

About STV Studios

STV Studios is one of the UK's leading content businesses and is Scotland's biggest production company. Led by award-winning executive David Mortimer, the company has an impressive track-record of success across drama, entertainment and factual, with commissions spanning BBC One and Two, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC Scotland, Discovery, VH1/MTV and Sky One.

In Scripted, STV Studios' 2019 drama The Victim was a critical and ratings success for BBC One. The four-part thriller was nominated for a BAFTA in the Best Mini-Series category and saw leading actress, Kelly Macdonald, receive a BAFTA Scotland Award for her role.  TV film Elizabeth is Missing, featuring two time Academy Award winner Glenda Jackson, was broadcast on BBC One in 2019. The drama was met with universal acclaim and has garnered numerous awards and nominations. It was shortlisted for a BAFTA TV Award in the Single Drama category in 2020, and Glenda Jackson won the prestigious leading actress BAFTA for her exceptional performance.  Unscripted formats include 20 series of Antiques Road Trip and nine series of sister programme, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip for BBC, with a further 140 episodes in production; six series of Catchphrase and five of Celebrity Catchphrase for ITV; The Yorkshire Auctioneer, a ten-part factual series for Discovery and The Palace and the Press for Channel 5.

In 2019, STV Studios acquired a majority stake in award-winning unscripted producer Primal Media; holds a minority stake in high-end drama producer, Two Cities; and is exclusive production partner to drama company, Tod Productions.

STV Studios was previously named STV Productions and rebranded in August 2020.

www.stvstudios.com