Channel 5 Greenlights 6-Part Drama ‘The Feud’, Starring Jill Halfpenny and Rupert Penry-Jones, from Lonesome Pine Productions

Also confirmed to star are James Fleet, Tessa Peake-Jones, Ray Fearon, Amy Nuttall, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Larry Lamb, Alex Macqueen and Chris Gascoyne   

LONDON, Thursday 9th May 2024: Channel 5 today announce brand-new domestic thriller, The Feud (6x60’), starring Jill Halfpenny and Rupert Penry-Jones. Produced by Lonesome Pine Productions, in association with Banijay Rights and North East Screen.   

The Feud introduces Emma and John Barnett, played by Jill Halfpenny (The Cuckoo, The Long Shadow, Everything I Know About Love) and Rupert Penry-Jones (Spooks, Our House, The Drowning), who, along with their teenage daughter Beth, played by newcomer Megan Trower, appear to live an idyllic life on Shelbury Drive. They’re close friends with their neighbours, Sonia and Alan, played by Amy Nuttall (Downton Abbey, Chemistry of Death, Mr Bates vs The Post Office) and Ray Fearon (Fleabag, Barbie, Harry Potter), and despite their foibles, are also fond of older couple, Derek and Barbara, played by James Fleet (Unforgotten, Bridgerton, Vicar of Dibley) and Tessa Peake-Jones (Grantchester, Only Fools and Horses, Unforgotten). The close friendships in this seemingly peaceful street prove to be not quite as harmonious as they seem. When Emma and John decide to add a kitchen extension to their house, things quickly start to spin drastically out of control. As objections to the plans are raised, unexpected skeletons and life-threatening secrets begin to rise to the surface. Laced with menace, The Feud reveals how Emma’s aspirational dream turns sharply into obsession, paranoia, and fear. One decision sets in motion events that have unforeseeable consequences for both her and the people living on her street.   

Further cast include Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls, Screw, Unwelcome) as scorned police officer PC Gallagher, Larry Lamb (The Inheritance, Gavin and Stacey, EastEnders) as Emma’s wheeler-dealer father Terry, Alex Macqueen (The Inbetweeners, The Thick of It, Hijack) as oddball neighbour Nick, and Chris Gascoyne (Coronation Street, New Street Law, Moving On) as intimidating builder Lee. Judith Alexander (The Crown, Coronation Street, Walk Like a Panther), Joel Beckett (The Office, EastEnders, Casualty), and newcomers Luke Hammond and Joel Kai Ali round off The Feud’s cast.   

The Feud has been ordered for Channel 5 by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5. Written and created by Aschlin Ditta (The Inheritance, The Catherine Tate Show, Doc Martin), the series will be directed by Andy de Emmony (Vigil, Lucky Man, The Nest) with Lesley Douglas producing for Lonesome Pine Productions. Aschlin Ditta and Andy de Emmony will also executive produce the series, with Banijay Rights onboard for international distribution and funding by North East Screen Industries Partnership delivered by North East Screen.   

On filming The Feud, Jill Halfpenny comments: “The spiral that we see Emma’s world take in The Feud, from one seemingly innocent situation to life altering revelations, is something I can’t wait to dive into! Getting to work in the Northeast with the teams at Channel 5 and Lonesome Pine, along with the rest of this brilliant cast, is a joy.”   

On adding the series to Channel 5’s critically acclaimed drama slate, Paul Testar says: “Neighbourly disputes happen every day. The Feud takes that premise and runs with it to its extreme limit. What starts as an innocuous renovation triggers an extraordinary sequence of events. We’re excited to work with the wonderful team at Lonesome Pine again to bring this great story and stellar cast to the Channel 5 audience.”   

Does Emma know the people around her as well as she thinks? Who is hiding behind facades, who is manipulating events, and who is simply exactly who they appear to be? A drama full of paranoia, The Feud has started filming in Newcastle and is set to air on Channel 5 in 2025.   

 ENDS   

 For press enquiries please contact:  Kate Killgour | Kate.Killgour@paramount.com Amanda Browne | Amanda.Browne@paramount.com   

NOTES TO EDITORS   

About Channel 5 

Channel 5 is a multi-award-winning 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, its digital brands 5STAR, 5USA, 5SELECT, 5ACTION and on-demand platform My5 offer a diverse range of critically acclaimed, original programmes featuring well-known faces and fresh new talent – from issue-led documentaries, popular factual series and accessible history shows to premium drama and agenda-setting news & current affairs. Channel 5 is the only PSB to air children’s content daily through its much-loved programming strand Milkshake! – home to some of the world’s favourite pre-school characters.   

The free to air broadcaster’s agenda-driving commissions and distinctive British programming lead 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 UK.   

Channel 5’s portfolio significantly increased its share of the UK viewing audience in 2023 (+5%) - the only UK public service broadcaster to do so, marking five consecutive years of growth.   

Recent industry acclaim include: winning 2022’s Best Factual Show at the viewer voted TV Choice Awards for Springtime on the Farm and 2023’s inaugural True Crime Awards for Who Killed Billie Jo? White Nanny Black Child became the first ever documentary to win the Jury Prize at the 2023 Africa International Film Awards whilst All Creatures Great and Small took home the Stress Buster Award at the Radio Times’ Screen Test Awards.   

About Lonesome Pine Productions Based in the North-East of England, Lonesome Pine Productions produced 4-part drama ’The Inheritance’ for Channel 5 in 2023, and a comedy special ‘Do Not Disturb’ for Gold (UKTV) starring Catherine Tate. Lonesome Pine’s factual wing is responsible for a number of music documentaries on some of the biggest names in music history, such as Roy Orbison (BBC), Bruce Springsteen (Channel 4), David Gilmour (BBC), Greatest Albums Live (Sky), Johnny Cash (Channel 5), Stock Aitken Waterman (Channel 5), Dolly Parton (Channel 5), and Simple Minds (Paramount+).   

About Banijay Rights 

Leading global distributor, Banijay Rights, represents a world-class, multi-genre portfolio of 185,000 hours of standout programming. Handling the distribution for media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay, the division specialises in the exploitation of premium scripted and non-scripted brands to broadcasters worldwide.   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 130+ 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, Peaky Blinders, Rogue Heroes, Marie Antoinette, Temptation Island, Grantchester, Deal or No Deal, Biggest Loser, Home and Away, Love Triangle, 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.   

About North East Screen 

North East Screen is the screen agency for the North East. We develop and champion North East England as one of the UK’s leading film and TV production hubs where exceptional screen industry talent can live, create and work. We support all incoming productions with crew, locations and facilities shooting anywhere in the North East England through our free and invaluable Film Office. We manage the North East Production Fund on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership. We work with Indie production companies based in the North East providing them with business and commission development support. We offer professional support to home grown freelancers including writers, producer, directors and artist filmmakers. We connect experienced crew to job opportunities and, for those just starting out and wanting to work in film and TV, we run the NE Screen Crew Academy. www.northeastscreen.org @nescreen_   

North East Screen Industries Partnership was formed by Combined and Local Authorities from across the region to level up the regional film and TV industries by more than doubling its 2019 share of the UK production market and delivering an annual economic impact to the regional economy of £88m.  It includes Tees Valley Combined Authority, (representing the five authorities of Hartlepool Borough Council, Stockton-On-Tees Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council, Darlington Borough Council and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council), the North of Tyne Combined Authority (representing its three partner authorities Northumberland County Council, North Tyneside Council and Newcastle City Council) and the North East Combined Authority authorities of Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council.