British network Channel 4 has commissioned its first digital original drama.
“Beth,” written and directed by Uzo Oleh (“Edicius”), is a three-part science fiction thriller starring Nicholas Pinnock (“This Town,” “The Book of Clarence”) and Abbey Lee (“Horizon: An American Saga,” “Mad Max: Fury Road”), that will broadcast on Channel 4’s YouTube, as well as its streaming and linear channel. The series was executive produced by Anna Higgs and produced by Dark Pictures and GroupM Motion Entertainment.
In “Beth,” Pinnock and Lee play Joe and Molly, a married couple who are deeply in love, successful in their careers and living the high life. But one thing is missing — a child. So when Molly falls pregnant after years of false hope, it feels like a miracle.
Months later, when their baby daughter, Imogen, is born, she’s as Caucasian as can be, with no resemblance to Joe, her father. As Joe and Molly’s life is thrown into turmoil, Joe begins to unravel a shocking truth that rocks him, Molly and, potentially, the world to the core. Will Joe be able to keep his discovery a secret in order to protect his family?
“Bringing Beth to life has been an extraordinary journey, made possible by the support of my producers and commissioners, who championed the vision at every turn,” said Oleh. “Collaborating with Nicholas and Abbey has been an honour, the depth and nuance they bring to their performances elevates the story beyond what I could have imagined.”
Pinnock noted that “Beth was “such an intriguing concept it was impossible to turn down,” adding that playing Joe was gave him a “chance to explore the often-unspoken challenges of parenthood and identity.”
For Lee, she said Oleh’s “stunning portrayal of love, miracles and heartache had me hooked instantly.”
“Beth” is a 3×15-minute drama for Channel 4’s YouTube and Channel 4 Streaming and will also have a 45-minute linear broadcast. It was commissioned for Channel 4 Digital by Thomas Pullen, digital commissioning executive, with Laura Marks, digital commissioning editor, and Sacha Khari, head of digital commissioning. The series was developed by Danyele Seignoret, development executive, Channel 4 Drama. Alongside Higgs, exec producers including Dark Pictures’ Yaw Basoah, Oleh and Deep Sehgal for GroupM Motion Entertainment.
“To work with Uzo, Yaw, Thomas and the whole team on Channel 4’s first original digital drama feels like a full circle moment for me,” said Higgs. “Having worked at Film4 some 15 years ago, with an innovation remit, I’m glad to see Channel 4 continuing to blaze a trail and support bold emerging storytellers to make work in new ways and I’m so proud to be a part of making this happen.”
Added Pullen: “From the first moment I read ‘Beth,’ I had goosebumps at the prospect of commissioning this incredible story built on two amazing characters in Joe and Molly. This project is truly groundbreaking for us — showing that short, episodic drama can attract incredible talent both in front of and behind the camera.”
