CHANNEL 5 ANNOUNCE CAST FOR UPCOMING DRAMA THRILLER THE WINTER CHILD

SHIRLEY HENDERSON LEADS CAST ALONGSIDE CRAIG PARKINSON, IAN-LLOYD ANDERSON, LISA DWYER HOGG AND SARA POWELL.

Channel 5 and Clapperboard, Chalkboard’s scripted sister company, have today announced the casting of key roles for their upcoming drama The Winter Child (4 x 60). 

The series follows Claudia, a lonely single mother and school nurse, longing for connection. Her opportunity to be a hero comes when a young child in her community – Emily Winter – goes missing. Claudia becomes embroiled in the case and fixated on uncovering the truth. However, her fascination quickly begins to turn to obsession, not only with what happened to Emily, but also with the Winter family at the heart of the case - Emily’s grief-stricken father, Owen; her cold mother, Sabine, and her twelve-year-old brother, Dean.  Mike Benson and Julie Ryan serve as executive producers for Clapperboard, whilst Sophie Gardiner and Toby Bentley are executive producers for Chapter One. Giula Sandler (White House Farm) is the creator and writer of The Winter Child, whilst Cormac Fox (Animals) joins the team as producer. Endeavor Content handles worldwide distribution on the title outside the UK. 

Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Trainspotting, Southcliffe) will play the lead role of Claudia, with Craig Parkinson (Grace, Black Mirror; Bandersnatch, Line of Duty) as affable English tutor George. Emily’s heartbroken parents Owen and Sabine are played by Ian-Lloyd Anderson (Game of Thrones, Derek) and Lisa Dwyer Hogg (Silent Witness, The Irregulars). Sara Powell (Doctor Who, Ghosts. Death in Paradise) plays supportive yet suspicious neighbour Joanne alongside Ronan Leahy (Batman Begins) as her husband Dave. In addition, Luke Griffin (1983) plays Leon, Claudia’s estranged husband while newcomers Myah Mason and Calum Jess play siblings Emily and Dean Winter, Caleb Wilson plays Claudia’s son Rhys. Also featuring are Eddie Brett who joins as Joanne and Dave’s son Simon, Francesca Europa as Imogen, Niamh McCann as Annette and Danielle Ryan as Holly. 

Giula Sandler, Creator, Writer and Executive Producer of The Winter Child commented: “It is a dream come true to have The Winter Child made with such passionate and creatively inspiring collaborators. Channel 5, Clapperboard and Chapter One have brought together a phenomenal cast and I’m so excited to see how they bring this world, and the twisted workings of our main character, Claudia, to life.” 

Filming for The Winter Child will commence on location in 2022 and is set to transmit on Channel 5 later this year.

-ENDS-

For further enquiries please contact:

Hannah Allan | hannah.allan@vimn.com 

Amanda Browne | amanda.browne@vimn.com 

About Channel 5: 

Channel 5 is a public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been part of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS) since its acquisition in September 2014. 

Channel 5 and its digital brands – 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select, 5ACTION and the on-demand service My5 – offer a diverse range of issue-led documentaries & popular factual celebrating the British countryside and drawing talent to the channel, accessible history, premium drama and critically-acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming. Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 leads on societal issues from inequality to homelessness and mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation. 

In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald. The following year, Raped: My Story won best Single Documentary at RTS. In 2020, it won crowned Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Awards and by the RTS. In addition that year, it secured its first ever Grierson award win in the ‘Best Single Documentary – Domestic’ category with Suicidal: In Our Own Words. In 2021, it won best factual entertainment at the Broadcast Awards for Springtime on the Farm. It also won best drama at Voice of the Listener & Viewer for All Creatures Great & Small the same year. 

About Clapperboard: 

Clapperboard Studios was set up in 2020 as the partner company of Chalkboard – Producers of 2019’s Cold Call - and Storyboard Studios. Since its inception Clapperboard have gone on to produce a diverse range of dramas including the critically acclaimed The Teacher, the ratings winning Intruder and co-produce the hit comedy drama The Madame Blanc Mysteries. The company is headed up by Exec Producer and MD Mike Benson. 

Clapperboard is part of iZen is the Producer-led content group comprising of a network of independent production companies in Spain, the Middle East and the UK. iZen’s experience in scripted also extends to one of Amazon Prime Video’s largest original scripted series in Europe, El Cid.

About Chapter One:

Chapter One is a UK-based production house launched in June 2018 and is backed by Anonymous Content, Casarotto and United Agents. Bringing together three unique companies with a common purpose, Chapter One has created an opportunity to more easily identify and collaborate with both established and emerging international talent and to deliver premium content, both within the UK and on a global scale.  

Their passion is for authored and entertaining work with a sense of purpose that places the writers and directors at the heart of everything we do, across all genres, broadcasters, and platforms. Chapter One is currently developing a slate of high-quality content for film and television both in the UK and internationally, and has a few shows in production in 2022 including: Best Interests, written by Jack Thorne for BBC1 and Boy Swallows Universe, based on Trent Dalton’s best-selling novel (co-produced with Anonymous Content and Brouhaha). 

About Endeavor Content:   

Endeavor Content is a global leader in the creation, production and distribution of premium film and television content.   

The studio’s film titles include “In the Heights” and “Just Mercy” for Warner Bros., “Book Club” for Paramount Pictures, “Blue Miracle” for Netflix, Oscar nominated “The Lost Daughter” for Netflix, “Ambulance” with Universal Pictures, “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” for Amazon, and Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winner “Cha Cha Real Smooth” for Apple TV+. The studio produces premium TV series such as “Severance,” “Roar,” “See” and “Truth Be Told” on Apple TV+, “Wolf Like Me” for Peacock, “Nine Perfect Strangers,“ “Life & Beth” for Hulu, and “Tokyo Vice” for HBO Max. Endeavor Content also handles global distribution for hit series including “Killing Eve,” “The Morning Show,” “Normal People” and “The Night Manager.”