Channel 5 Greenlights New Six-Part Drama ‘The Wives’ From Gaumont

Channel 5 announced today it has greenlit new drama, The Wives (6x60’), a domestic thriller produced by Gaumont, in association with Banijay Rights for international distribution.   

The Wives is a six-part mystery drama that follows the unravelling of one family in a summer that changes all their lives. Last year, four sisters-in-law and their families escaped to their Maltese holiday apartments, as they’ve done every summer for fifteen years. Sylvie was happily married, Natasha was swimming in wealth, and Beth and Annabelle were thick as thieves. But this year, as they come together again, everything is different. Sylvie’s now single and loving life, Natasha’s hiding a desperate financial situation, Beth is barely keeping her life together and Annabelle is, well... dead.   

When Annabelle’s widower Charlie arrives with a new woman in tow, Beth tries to be happy for them, but something doesn’t sit right, Charlie’s new girlfriend looks exactly like Annabelle. Beth’s plans to have a great summer are quickly scuppered by Charlie’s odd behaviour, and her suspicion that there’s more to Annabelle’s death is heightened. With lies coming to light and evidence building, the women work together and against each other to unravel the mystery and bring the culprit to justice. But with corrupt officials, drug cartels and career criminals closer to home than ever expected, have they bitten off more than they can chew?   

The Wives has been ordered for Channel 5 by Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Paramount UK and Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount+. Executive producers for Gaumont are Jessica Connell and Alison Jackson. Produced by Margot Gavan Duffy, The Wives was written and created by Helen Black (Time S2, Life and Death in the Warehouse), Ciara Conway (Screw, Holby City) and Jamie Jackson. The series will be directed by Claire Tailyour (Phoenix Rise, Deceit) and Paulette Randall (Waterloo Road, Tin Star). Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of media and entertainment powerhouse Banijay, handles international sales for the series.   

Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, Paramount UK comments on the upcoming series: "We are excited to join forces with the wonderful teams at Gaumont and Banijay Rights for another gripping thriller. The Wives is set to bring layers of mystery and intrigue which is guaranteed to keep the Channel 5 audience guessing."   

Jessica Connell, Executive Producer, Gaumont adds: “We're excited to partner with Channel 5 and Banijay Rights again on this brilliant piece. Helen Black is a creative powerhouse and she has written a set of brilliantly messy, complex, witty women who we can't wait to see come to life on screen.”

Leila Hobday, VP Acquisitions, Banijay Rights, adds: “We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with Gaumont and Channel 5 following our recent successful partnership on For Her Sins. It’s great to see another commercial scripted series being taken out to the international market and we are in no doubt The Wives will resonate strongly with viewers worldwide.”    

A compulsive drama, full of guilty pleasures, The Wives will begin filming in Malta early next year and is set to air later in 2024. Casting details will be announced in the coming months.  

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 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 and Small the same year.   

About Gaumont UK 

Gaumont UK was launched to produce exceptional original British drama for the global market.  Led by executive producer and President Alison Jackson (Locked In, Obsession, For Her Sins), Gaumont UK have projects in development with all major platforms and broadcasters including BBC, Sky, Apple, Netflix and Paramount+. Gaumont proudly embraces its eclecticism, inspiring film and series lovers across generations. Specializing in producing local stories with global appeal, Gaumont’s current slate includes talent-driven, diverse, and distinctive titles (films, series, animation) across multiple languages for cinemas and the world’s leading global streaming platforms and channels. Most recently, Gaumont UK have released Locked In, a psychological thriller for Netflix starring Famke Janssen, Rose Williams and Anna Friel, completed Obsession, a four-part thriller for Netflix starring Richard Armitage, Charlie Murphy and Indira Varma, co-produced with Moonage Pictures as well as four-part thriller for Channel 5, For Her Sins.   

About Gaumont 

Founded in 1895, Gaumont celebrates nearly 130 years of history and innovation. With offices in Paris, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Köln, and Rome, Gaumont remains an industry leader, producing and distributing high-quality TV programming and films.  The Gaumont library encompasses over 1,500 iconic titles, including Lupin, Narcos, Barbarians, Untouchable, Monsieur Gangster, The Fifth Element, Stillwater, Lost Illusions and 8½.    

Website : www.gaumont.com    

About Banijay Rights

Leading global distributor, Banijay Rights, represents a world-class, multi-genre portfolio of 180,000 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.