Scripted

Leading UK-based distributor DCD Rights announces a raft of drama sales to international platforms and broadcasters for hit crime series Frankie Drake Mysteries and My Life Is Murder.

Extensive new deals have been struck for the latest series of the critically-acclaimed Frankie Drake Mysteries to Ovation TV in the US, which follows a PBS Distribution streaming window, Epic Drama and VIP Serial – Central & Eastern Europe, Russia and CIS, Seven Network – Australia, YLE – Finland, Sky TV Network – New Zealand, and HRT – Croatia. New sales for earlier series include The Walt Disney Company – Balkans (Series 1), Prime Time Media – Russia and CIS (Series 1–3), Latvian Television (Series 2 & 3) and CH.U - South Korea (Series 1-4). Produced by Shaftesbury Productions in association with CBC and UKTV, the show has previously sold to LUK international for Spain and Portugal.

Currently in production in New Zealand, the brand-new series of ratings-hit crime drama My Life Is Murder (10 x 60’), a Greenstone TV production for TVNZ, Acorn TV and DCD Rights in association with Network 10, has pre-sold to UKTV for the broadcaster’s dedicated crime drama channel Alibi, The Walt Disney Company – Portugal and Portuguese Speaking Africa as well as The Balkans, Acorn TV for The Netherlands, Central America and South America and TV2 Denmark. DCD Rights, who raised significant production finance for the new season, also confirms substantial new deals for series one to NBCUniversal International Networks for Universal TV in Africa, The Walt Disney Company – The Balkans, Acorn TV – UK, Australia and New Zealand and TV2 Denmark.

Nicky Davies Williams, CEO, comments “We’re delighted to report wide-reaching sales of two long running crime series, both with lively female protagonists, but set in very different eras. They share intriguing and engaging storylines, which are proving to be winners with international audiences.”

DCD Rights recently launched new dramas – The Tender Trap, (1 x 90’) based on a shocking true story, which reveals how a sensible, middle-aged woman from New Zealand ends up serving time in a Buenos Aires jail for drug trafficking. A Greenstone TV Production for TVNZ made with the support of NZ On Air, starring Rima Te Wiata (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Shortland Street). As well as the third and final Jack Irish story – Jack Irish: Hell Bent (3 x 60’) an Easy Tiger Production for ABC Australia in association with Film Victoria starring Guy Pearce (A Christmas Carol, Iron Man 3, Mildred Pierce).

Show information:

Frankie Drake Mysteries (41 x 60’) set in 1920s Toronto, follows the city’s only female private detectives as they take on the cases the police don’t want to touch. In a time of change and hopefulness, their gender is their biggest advantage as they defy expectations and rebel against convention. They are new detectives for a new world – but is the world ready for them? Lauren Lee Smith (Hudson & Rex, The Shape of Water, Ascension) stars as the eponymous Frankie Drake, alongside Chantel Riley (Wynonna Earp, Pearson, Suits), Rebecca Liddiard (Alias Grace, Slasher, Saving Hope) and Sharron Matthews (Hudson & Rex, Murdoch Mysteries, Mean Girls).

My Life Is Murder (20 x 60’) stars award-winning Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless (Top of the Lake, Spartacus, Xena: Warrior Princess) as private investigator Alexa Crowe, who brings her unique brand of investigation to an unsuspecting New Zealand. Alexa finds herself entangled in compelling new murder mysteries centred on fascinating and dangerous characters who will challenge, flirt with and frustrate Alexa… and sometimes threaten everything she cares about. Ably assisted by exuberant Madison (Ebony Vagulans - Doctor Doctor, The Letdown, The Furies), Alexa is ready to use her powers for good and bring her always surprising sleuthing style back at full force in this charming, humorous series.

Based on a shocking true story, The Tender Trap reveals how a sensible, middle-aged woman from New Zealand ends up serving time in a Buenos Aires jail for drug trafficking. After a successful 20-year career in public service, Sharon Armstrong moves to Auckland to be closer to her daughter and grandson, but becomes lonelier than ever. Struggling to find work, she begins to feel lost – and inadvertently becomes vulnerable to the false promise of love, falling foul of a targeted romance scam. This is Sharon Armstrong’s story – but, in truth, it could happen to anyone.

Jack Irish: Hell Bent sees Jack’s long-suppressed trauma rears its ugly head as he discovers there’s more to Isabel Irish’s seemingly random murder by his former client Wayne Milovich; namely, a criminal conspiracy involving his trusted friend, homicide detective Barry Tregear. When a cop is murdered in a drive-through, a chain reaction is set off, forcing Jack to search for the truth behind his wife’s murder. Enlisting the help of his old flame, Linda Hillier, Jack digs back 25 years into a record-breaking drug raid dubbed Great White. He soon meets Barry’s mistress, Nina Persky, who finds herself under threat from Troy, a troubled young man hell-bent on murdering every cop connected to the raid. To find the truth, Jack must stop him before everyone involved winds up dead. The explosive final series of Jack Irish comes full circle, delving into Jack’s past and bringing him face-to-face with an adversary more personal and destructive than any he’s ever known.