CHANNEL 5 COMMISSION NEW DRAMA UNDER HER SKIN (W/T) STARRING JO JOYNER AND RACHEL SHENTON

London, 1st December 2022: Channel 5 today announce the commission of Jo Joyner and Rachel Shenton led Under Her Skin (W/T), a 4 x 60” primetime psychological thriller about a woman who, on the surface, has it all. But with the pressures of modern life and a new friend secretly determined to create chaos, her world is set spiralling. The series will be produced by Gaumont, in partnership with Banijay Rights for international distribution.   

Ordered for Channel 5 by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount+, Under Her Skin (W/T) is written and created by Jo Rogers (The Colony), who also serves as associate producer, and is directed by Adrian McDowall (The Last Czars, Willow). Executive producers for Gaumont are Alison Jackson and Jessica Connell. 

Jo Joyner (Stay Close, Ackley Bridge, Shakespeare & Hathaway) is confirmed to play Laura, a woman who has the perfect family on paper – a loving husband and two beautiful children. But like any family there are cracks in their perfect veneer. Cracks that Emily, played by Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small, White Gold), a charismatic stranger is hell bent on exploiting.  

We see Laura led down an increasingly dangerous path as Emily nurtures Laura’s neuroses about her ability as a mother, fuels tensions in her marriage and reignites an old flame from Laura’s past. But Laura is hiding something too… and these two women are bound by a shared secret, one they have both tried to keep buried. But nothing stays a secret forever.      

Alison Jackson, Executive Producer, Gaumont says: “We are thrilled to bring this contemporary, provocative story to life in our first project with Channel 5. Jo Joyner and Rachel Shenton are a hugely dynamic duo and we can’t wait to see them bring these characters to life.”   

Jo Joyner comments: “I’m really looking forward to working on this gripping thriller for Channel 5. It is really great to be working with Gaumont, an almost exclusively female team and I feel this is reflected in the brilliant scripts. There is such a contradiction with the character of Laura, so focused and organised in her work life and yet chaotic and insecure with her home life. I feel it really resonates. I am so looking forward to working with Rachel Shenton and for us to bring these 2 flawed women to the screen.” 

Rachel Shenton adds: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of Under her Skin. Jo Rogers has created such a dark and compelling story that has two women at its centre, I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to bring Emily to life - She’s wild. ”   

On the new addition to Channel 5’s drama slate, Paul Testar comments: “I’m so excited that we are working with the esteemed teams at Gaumont and Banijay Rights to bring this gripping psychological thriller to the Channel 5 audience. With such a strong script and an outstanding cast led by Jo Joyner and Rachel Shenton, fans of Channel 5 thrillers will love sinking their teeth into this."   

Under Her Skin has begun filming in Malta and is set to air on Channel 5 in 2023.    

ENDS   

For further press enquiries please contact: 

 Kate Killgour | kate.killgour@vimn.com 

 Kate Keilty | kate.keilty@vimn.com   

Notes to Editors   

 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 owned by Paramount since September 2014. Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select and My5 TV reach 3 in 4 of the UK viewing public each month with a diverse schedule including issue-led documentaries, popular factual, accessible history, stunning natural history, inclusive entertainment and reality, top level sport, high quality scripted programming and critically acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming. Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 has led on societal issues from inequality to inner city gang life, homelessness to mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation.  My5 is an on-demand service allowing viewers to watch content online for free from Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select and 5Spike, as well as selected third-party channels.  In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald and was named ‘Channel of the Year’ at the Edinburgh TV Festival. In 2019, Channel 5 won best documentary award for The Abused at the RTS Awards, Edinburgh TV Awards and the Association of International Broadcasters Awards. In 2020, Channel 5 was crowned Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards and Channel of the Year at the RTS awards.   

About Gaumont: 

For Gaumont in the UK 2022 has been a busy and fruitful year with productions including Damage - a four part series for Netflix (coproduced with Moonage), a movie currently shooting for Netflix as well as Under Her Skin for Channel Five/Paramount.  In addition we have projects in development for all major platforms and broadcasters. For over a century, Gaumont has been synonymous with global cinematic distribution and production. Between its offices in Paris, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Köln and Rome, Gaumont is a heavyweight industry leader with its finger on the pulse of contemporary storytelling. With over 1400 titles under its belt, Gaumont’s library includes some of the most iconic stories ever told, such as Fellini’s visual masterpiece 8 ½ and The Intouchables by Toledano and Nakache, the latter of which remains to this day the highest-grossing French-language movie to date with over $450 million in revenue. Gaumont’s flagship series Narcos will be returning to Netflix for its 6th season, quickly becoming a household name in the industry alongside historical epic Barbarians, animated short High in The Clouds and the breakout sensation Lupin starring Omar Sy. Amazon Prime houses more of Gaumont’s hit international series such as Totems and El Presidente. From classic French comedies like Les Tontons flingueurs to heartwarming contemporary animated stories like Stillwater, to cult classics like Besson’s Léon, Gaumont is proud to be a long-time champion of diverse storytelling spanning every part of the social and cultural landscape.  www.gaumonttelevision.com     

About Banijay Rights: 

Leading independent global distributor, Banijay Rights, represents a world-class, multi-genre portfolio of over 146,000 hours of standout programming. Leading distribution for the largest international creator and producer, Banijay, the division handles the exploitation of some of the planet’s best scripted and non-scripted brands. Representing quality, excellence and experience in the business of linear and non-linear television and ancillary activity across all platforms, Banijay Rights’ catalogue encompasses a host of top titles from Banijay’s 120+ in-house labels, and a number of third-party producers, spanning drama, comedy, entertainment, factual, reality, family, formats and theatrical. Delivering high-quality IP, which was born locally and travels globally, the distributor offers the best stories told the best way. Its landmark brands include Survivor, Big Brother, MasterChef, Temptation Island, Grantchester, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Deal or No Deal, Versailles, Biggest Loser, Home and Away, Money Drop, Mr Bean and Black Mirror.  Built on independence, creative freedom, entrepreneurialism and commercial acumen, Banijay Rights operates under the direction of Chief Executive Officer, Cathy Payne.