ABC pulls out of Top of the Lake

Australian broadcaster ABC has decided to pull out of BBC Two drama Top of the Lake.

Broadcast reports that ABC has pulled out of the Jane Campion co-production because of the casting of Mad Men actress Elisabeth Moss in the lead role. The BBC announced the drama last week as a co-production between several partners. However, just days later and ABC has pulled but UKTV, the BBC Worldwide channel, will replace the broadcaster.

A spokesperson for ABC is quoted by Broadcast saying ‘ABC TV withdrew its investment because we were not prepared to have an American actress play the lead role – who is an Australian police officer’. Moss is best known for her role of Peggy Oslon on the critically acclaimed and award-winning drama Mad Men. The American drama, formerly shown on BBC Four in the UK but now shown on Sky Atlantic, is based in a 1960s ad agency in New York.

You can read the original press release for Top of the Lake here >>