BBC One under Siege

Press Release. Controller of BBC One Jay Hunt and Controller of BBC Drama, Commissioning, Ben Stephenson [pictured, left] today announce an ambitious new four-part drama event from Big Talk Productions entitled Siege.

 

Played out and broadcast in real time, the series opens with a botched kidnap plot in a London secondary school. With 100 civilians held hostage, the kidnappers demand the release of a notorious war criminal from a British jail.

 

As the Government stands firm, the siege takes hold and events move towards their thrilling conclusion over four tense nights. The new drama is based on an idea by Simon Curtis who has provided the BBC with Five Days and Cranford.

 

Simon Curtis says:  “After developing the original Five Days and seeing the viewers’ appetite for contemporary television events, the logical next step seemed to play out a drama in real time on consecutive nights and Kate Brooke is the perfect writer to take on such a challenge.”

 

Written by Kate Brooke who has previously worked on shows such as Joanne Lees: Murder In The Outback, Siege will be produced by Big Talk Head of Drama Luke Alkin.  Executive producers are Simon Curtis and Big Talk Chief Executive Kenton Allen. Polly Hill will executive produce for the BBC.

 

 

Jay Hunt added: This compelling thriller will build on BBC One’s reputation for unmissable drama events.”

 

Siege is Big Talk’s first drama commission following BBC Worldwide’s strategic investment into the company in 2008. BBC Worldwide will be handling international sales and distribution.

Our full article, which was online before the BBC press release can be read here.