7am, Thursday 22 February
2024
STV STUDIOS CONFIRMS THREE
HIGH-END DRAMA SERIES COMMISSIONS FOR TWO CITIES
TELEVISION
· STV Studios outlines details
of new commissions for newly consolidated production
label
· Two Cities Television to
produce new drama, Amadeus, for Sky
· A 3rd and
4th series of Blue Lights to be made for BBC One and
iPlayer
STV Studios this week confirms three
drama series commissions for its newly consolidated production
label, Two Cities Television ('Two Cities'). These include
two further series (3 and 4) of Belfast based, critically acclaimed
police drama, Blue
Lights for BBC One and iPlayer; and new drama for Sky,
Amadeus.
Amadeus
reunites the acclaimed writer of Giri/Haji and The Lazarus Project Joe Barton,
BAFTA-winning actor Will Sharpe (Giri/Haji, The White Lotus S2) and
director Julian Farino (Giri/Haji). Deftly reimagined from
Peter Shaffer's award-winning stage play, Barton's adaptation of
Amadeus expands and
interrogates the mythic rivalry, promising a corrupting symphony of
jealousy, ambition and genius. Set within the musical hub of
bustling Vienna at the end of the 18th century,
twenty-five-year-old Amadeus arrives in the city no longer a child
and determined to carve his own path. Recently unemployed and
without the management of his father, Amadeus finds an unlikely
ally in a young singer who will become his wife, fiery Constanze
Weber Mozart. Her connections help bring him into the orbit of the
talented court composer Antonio Salieri, setting the three of them
on a collision course where only one will ultimately live to tell
the tale.
Blue Lights
is co-created and written by Declan Lawn and Adam
Patterson, and is an authentic, gripping and darkly funny drama
about ordinary people doing an extraordinary job. Series one, which
aired in March last year, followed three new PSNI probationary
recruits as they navigated their way through their first few months
in a uniquely complex place to be a response police officer.
It launched to more than 7 million (BARB 28 Day 4 Screen).
The much anticipated second series airs this spring.
In January 2024, STV Studios
announced that it had
increased its equity stake in Two Cities
from 25% to a majority 51% in a materially
earnings enhancing deal. STV confirmed that the high-end
drama producer had secured revenues of £55m over the next three
years and this week's news confirms the details of these series now
that they have been announced by the broadcasters, Sky and
BBC.
Two Cities Television is led by
joint CEOs, Michael Jackson
(formerly Controller of BBC One and BBC Two, CEO of Channel 4,
President of Programming at USA Entertainment and Chairman of
Universal Television) and Stephen
Wright (formerly Head of Drama for BBC Northern Ireland
where he commissioned Line of
Duty and The
Fall).
David Mortimer, MD of STV Studios, said: "Last month, we announced our
increased stake in Two Cities Television, led by the brilliant
Michael Jackson and Stephen Wright, and we're now delighted to
confirm the exciting projects coming up for the company.
Amadeus looks set to be an outstanding original piece for
Sky; and a commitment to a further two series of Blue Lights from
the BBC is testament to the quality and popularity of the show and
the talent behind it."
Simon Pitts, CEO of STV Group Plc said: "STV's consolidation
of Two Cities is clear evidence of the ongoing success of our
Studios strategy of investing in high potential production
companies. The Two Cities team are at the top of their game, as
these new high end drama commissions show, and we're incredibly
proud to be their partners."
Ends.
Contact: Kirstin Stevenson (STV
Studios) Kirstin.stevenson@stv.tv
/ 07803970106
