Space series adds new dimension to BBC drama

Published Thursday 24 May 2007 at 11:45 by Matthew Hemley

Life on Mars producer Kudos is developing a drama set in space for BBC1.

Penned by Spooks writer Ben Richards, Outcasts follows a group of social misfits and criminals as they are used to test living conditions on a nearby planet when the future of Earth begins to look more precarious.

In return for their freedom, the group are sent to be the pioneers of the new settlement and must build the conditions for a new life.

The BBC described the drama as a “tense and fast-paced series” that deals with “conflict, idealism and power” and surviving as a species.

Controller of BBC fiction Jane Tranter said: “Following the unique success of time travel in Life On Mars, I’m naturally extremely excited about the dynamic duo of Kudos and Ben Richards joining forces to create a further dimension in BBC Drama.”

Kudos’ joint managing director Jane Featherstone added: “The colonisation of space by humans is only a matter of time, and we think that Ben Richards’ brilliant vision of what life will be like when that happens will offer audiences a dramatic, original and entertaining new drama arena.”