CHANNEL 5 COMMISSIONS FIRST TRUE CRIME DRAMA MAXINE FROM CLAPPERBOARD

  TRUE CRIME DRAMA TO REVISIT SOHAM MURDERS THROUGH THE EYES OF MAXINE CARR

LONDON Thursday 21st April 2022: Channel 5 have today announced the commission of its first true crime drama since the inception of its original drama slate in 2019. Maxine (3 x 60”) will be produced by Clapperboard, Chalkboard’s scripted sister company and is set to air in 2022. The series was ordered by Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer UK, at Paramount and Paul Testar, Commissioning Executive, Drama. 

Maxine (3 x 60”) will examine the investigation of school assistant Maxine Carr and her caretaker fiancé Ian Huntley, who was later imprisoned for the double murder of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the tragic case that shocked the nation. The three-part drama will explore their tumultuous relationship through Maxine’s perspective; why she lied for him and how she became public enemy No.1, as well as reflect the scale of the police investigation and subsequent media frenzy around the biggest manhunt ever seen in British history. Mike Benson and Julie Ryan are executive producers on the series. Laura Way (The Holiday, Blood) joins the team as director, whilst Simon Tyrrell (The Spanish Princess) serves as the writer. Abacus Media Rights are on board as international distributor for the series.   

On the addition to Channel 5’s 2022 drama slate Sebastian Cardwell said: “The series marks a new venture into the true crime genre for Channel 5 drama and will give viewers an in depth examination of Maxine Carr and her role in one of the most notorious crimes in recent British history.”   

Mike Benson, Managing Director, Clapperboard added: “Few crimes have embedded themselves in the national psyche more than the tragic events of Soham in 2002. It was a case which was unique in recent history in terms of the sheer scale of the media coverage and how this affected and nearly derailed the investigation and subsequent trial. We will explore this within the drama alongside the role played by Maxine Carr – dubbed “The Most Hated Woman in Britain.”   

The series will commence shooting on location in Ireland in 2022. Casting details will be announced in the coming months.   The new commission follows recent news Channel 5 has expanded its drama slate with two new productions; action thriller Desperate Measures (4 x 60”) and The Winter Child (4 x 60”), also from Clapperboard and set to transmit in 2022.   

ENDS 

For further enquiries please contact: 

Amanda Browne | amanda.browne@vimn.com 

Emily Holmes | emily.holmes@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 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 Abacus Media Rights: Abacus Media Rights (AMR) acquires and distributes a diverse slate of premium, multi-genre programming in the international market. At the same time, the company also works with producers to facilitate pre-sales and development finance as well as broadcaster commissions.   Embracing a fully transparent reporting ethos throughout, AMR focuses on building strong client relationships and generating positive solutions at every stage of the process, from initial financing to worldwide broadcast in order to successfully deliver scripted and non-scripted entertainment that counts to a global audience.   

Abacus Media Rights is an Amcomri Entertainment company.   Further details: www.abacusmediarights.com   Twitter: @abacus_rights