The Stage

Ambitious linked dramas to run on ITV1 and 2

Published Monday 20 November 2006 at 17:05 by Liz Thomas

ITV drama has unveiled one of its most daring projects, commissioning two linked dramas to run on ITV1 and ITV2.

Echo Beach has been billed as a soap set in Cornwall and follows the life of residents of a fictional seaside resort, it will broadcast on the digital channel. However alongside it on ITV1 is comedy drama Moving Wallpaper, which is a fly on the wall style production that goes behind the scenes of the soap, spying on the cast, producers, crew and publicists.

The concept has been developed by EastEnders writer and story consultant Tony Jordan, who is making the show in conjunction with Kudos, the production house best known for BBC hits Spooks, Life on Mars and Hustle.

Laura Mackie, controller of drama for the network, said: “Moving Wallpaper / Echo Beach is a hugely exciting project and a great chance to use the two channels in a genuinely innovative way. Viewers will be able to enjoy both series independently but will get a real reward from seeing how the two worlds work together.”

Echo Beach will be ITV2’s first significant move into UK originated drama, and the commissions come at a time when the network is trying to revamp its output in the genre, to attract a younger audience and in turn appeal to a wider range of advertisers.

Jane Featherstone, joint managing director of Kudos, said: “ITV have given us a wonderful opportunity to take Tony’s multi-channel dramatic vision and turn it into a reality in the most entertaining and smart way. This should be a genuine television first - not a spin-off, but two dramas, on different channels, linked from their conception. Funny, original and relevant, this is a world the audience understands completely, but will see turned on its head.”