February 18 2021 UKTV has teamed up with Sid Gentle Films Ltd and AMC to announce the greenlight of the new modern-day Faustian thriller Ragdoll (6x60), based on the novel by Daniel Cole, for its crime drama pay TV channel Alibi. The project will air on Alibi in the UK and AMC in the United States. The pitch black and darkly witty thriller will be adapted into six parts, with a writing team led by Freddy Syborn (Ms Marvel, Bad Education).Six people have been murdered, dismembered and sewn into the shape of one grotesque body - nicknamed the Ragdoll. Assigned to the shocking case are DS Nathan Rose, recently reinstated to the London Met; his best friend and boss, DI Emily Baxter; and the units new recruit, DC Lake Edmunds. The Ragdoll Killer taunts the police by sending them a list of his next victims, with Roses name among them. And with those victims to protect, our heroes soon come under intense public scrutiny. A darkly funny, gruesomely imaginative serial killer thriller, Ragdoll also captures the fascinating but flawed friends struggling with the consequences of institutionalisation and trauma.
Filming will commence in Spring 2021 around London and air in late 2021. Cast will be announced at a later date.
Freddy Syborn says:
I hope Ragdoll will be a visually exciting, darkly funny thriller in which the personal is the political. Above all, I hope our characters can make you laugh, then break your heart.
Sally Woodward Gentle, Executive Producer, Sid Gentle Films says:
I am so excited that we are embarking on this twisty and sophisticated piece with Freddy and the team. AMC have already proved themselves to be brilliant partners and we cant wait to work with Alibi.
Philippa Collie Cousins, Commissioning Editor, Drama, UKTV says:
Ragdoll is a dystopian, mesmerising, wickedly funny piece of hard-boiled detective screen fiction. It invites the audience into a timeless world of crime thriller, sending us on a rollercoaster ride with flawed, compelling Rose, his best friend/cop partner Baxter and rookie Edmunds. Together, they tread a maverick route to the truth in a broken world, with touches of Raymond Chandler meets Tina Fey in their memorable banter. Beautifully designed, this atmospheric project mirrors the pure evil, suspense and attention to detail of Silence of the Lambs.
Emma Ayech, channel director for Alibi adds:
I am thrilled to be bringing this exciting series to Alibi and to be working with such great partners in Sid Gentle Films and AMC. Ragdoll is a dark and twisty murder mystery that will hook our viewers with its macabre sense of humour and addictive plot; it will be a great addition to our growing slate of brand-new British crime drama.
Dan McDermott, AMC Networks President, Original Programming and Co-President of AMC Studios says:
We have enjoyed and been impressed with Sid Gentle Films during our partnership on Killing Eve, so we jumped at the opportunity to work with them again on Ragdoll. This dark yet comedic project written by the talented Freddy has the makings of a fast-paced yet cerebral thriller featuring the premium storytelling and compelling characters viewers expect from AMC.
Ragdoll has been commissioned for Alibi by Philippa Collie Cousins, Commissioning Editor, Drama, with Head of Scripted Pete Thornton and ordered by Emma Ayech, Channel Director for Alibi. At UKTV, Richard Watsham is the Director of Commissioning and Adrian Wills is Genre General Manager for Drama and Lifestyle.
Ragdoll has been commissioned for AMC by Dan McDermott and Kristin Jones.
Ragdoll will be executive produced by Sally Woodward Gentle and Lee Morris for Sid Gentle Films Ltd, one of BBC Studios invested indie production companies. Dan McDermott and Kristin Jones will take the lead for AMC and Philippa Collie Cousins for UKTVs Alibi. Freddy Syborn is lead writer and executive producer and Lizzie Rusbridger (Save Me, Our Girl) will produce. BBC Studios will distribute the series and introduce it to international buyers at BBC Studios Showcase, taking place 22-24 February 2021.
Contacts:
Gem Pinkney, Publicity Manager, UKTV
Jeni Noel, IJPR, jeni@ijpr.co.uk
About Alibi
Sky 132/826, Virgin 126/200, BT 312/382, TalkTalk 312, TV Player On demand on Sky, Virgin, BT and TalkTalk Alibi is the only TV channel dedicated to crime drama, investigating the best selection from the genre and premiering hit series from around the world such as Harrow, Evil, Briarpatch and Tommy.
Alibi stepped into UKTV Original crime drama series with guaranteed thrills, twists and turns including hit series Traces, starring Molly Windsor and Martin Compston and We Hunt Together starring Eve Myles and Babou Ceesay.
Now in its 14th series, Murdoch Mysteries has found a safe space on the channel while newcomers Hudson and Rex have become hugely popular additions. British crime dramas including Death in Paradise, Father Brown and Silent Witness give the viewers another chance to catch their favourite shows.
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and scripted drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UKs most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the worlds leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
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