The Stage

Channel 4 boosts drama line-up with two new commissions

Published Wednesday 29 September 2010 at 11:32 by Matthew Hemley

Channel 4 has commissioned two new drama series for 2011, as part of the broadcaster’s commitment to double its output of original drama from next year.

Camilla Campbell, Channel 4 head of drama, said the series had been commissioned using money freed up from the cancellation of Big Brother, which has seen the drama department benefit from a £20 million boost to its budget.

The new series announced today are Naked Apes, which will air on Channel 4, and Beaver Falls, for E4.

Naked Apes is penned by Brian Fillis, who wrote Fear of Fanny and The Curse of Steptoe for BBC Four, and is inspired by Tom Reynolds’ book, Blood, Sweat and Tea.

It follows a group of paramedics and is being made by Daybreak Pictures, which produced Britz for Channel 4.

Meanwhile, Beaver Falls has been written by Iain Hollands and is being made by Company Pictures, which makes Shameless for Channel 4.

The comedy drama follows three people fresh out of university who get work at a summer camp in the USA.

Campbell said: “We’re proud of our commitment to supporting the best British talent, backing innovative contemporary drama, and 2010 has been an exceptional year so far. From Shane Meadows’ This is England ‘86, to eagerly awaited new pieces from Ronan Bennett and Peter Kosminsky, Channel 4 continues its tradition of delivering original, bold and entertaining British drama.”

She added: “With money freed up from the cancellation of Big Brother we are delighted to be able to follow This is England ‘86 with another new drama series for Channel 4, a further series for E4, with more to come throughout 2011. In terms of brand new originated drama, we’re on track to more than double our output next year.”

Both of the series will air next summer. Other shows commissioned for 2011 include Kosminsky’s The Promise and Top Boy, from Bennett, a four-part thriller set on a Hackney estate.

This year will see Channel 4 broadcast Any Human Heart, an adaptation of William Boyd’s book, starring Jim Broadbent.