Scripted

At Mipcom 2024, BBC Studios Global Entertainment announced two scripted format licenses which will see award-winning drama Doctor Foster and hit comedy series Ghosts adapted for Greek audiences.

BAFTA award-winning psychological thriller Doctor Foster sees a trusted doctor’s seemingly perfect life implode when she uncovers her husband’s infidelity. The Greek adaptation, titled Paihnidia Ekdikisis (Revenge Games) will star Marilita Lambropoulou in the lead role and Nikos Kouris as her husband. The 80 x 60’ series, produced by ANT1 TV and Silverline Media Productions, has drawn further inspiration from the Turkish adaptation of the format by Medyapim, A Woman Scorned, and will be written by Yiannis Skaragkas, and directed by Alekos Kiranis. The duo were recently awarded Best TV Series for psychological thriller Act Like You’re Asleep at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2023. The series is due to air on ANT1 TV and SVOD ANT1+ in Spring 2025.

Originally written and created by Mike Bartlett and produced by Drama Republic, the Doctor Foster format has already been successfully adapted in markets such as France, Japan, the Philippines, Slovakia, South Korea, MENA and Turkey. The South Korean version, known locally as The Word of the Married, was the country’s highest-rated drama in cable TV history.

Originally produced by Monumental Television in association with Them There for BBC One, Ghosts centres around a young couple who inherit a derelict mansion and plan to turn it into a hotel. Their plans are challenged when the restless spirits, who have died there over the years, start to create chaos for the couple.

The Greek adaptation will mark the fifth international license of the format and will be written by renowned comedy writer Theodore Petropoulos and produced locally by Tanweer Productions. The series will begin shooting this winter and is due to broadcast on Star Channel in autumn 2025.

The Ghosts format has already been successfully adapted in the US, where a fourth season, produced by CBS Studios in association with Lionsgate Television and BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions is airing this month on CBS. Production is underway for the French adaptation with Disney+ and TF1, in Germany for ARD, and the format was most recently announced for Australia with Paramount Australia and Network 10.

Matt Forde, Managing Director for Global Entertainment at BBC Studios said: “It is brilliant to see that local adaptations of both Ghosts and Doctor Foster will soon be reaching Greek audiences. Ghosts leans into key moments and figures from local history so I am really looking forward to seeing how Greece will playfully reflect this in their own version. We have already seen some fantastic local takes on the gripping story of Doctor Foster and with such a talented on and off screen ensemble I am certain this Greek adaptation will be another.”

George Levendis, Managing Director of ANT1 TV, MAK TV & Antenna Studios said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing the award-winning drama Doctor Foster to Greek viewers, and delighted with our partnership with BBC Studios. The acclaimed creative minds behind the Greek adaptation, in collaboration with the best-in-class BBC consultancy, have created an exceptional premium production that’s primed to captivate Greek audiences!"

Koralia Georgakopoulou, Programme Director at Star Channel said: “A very special set of Ghosts is coming to haunt Greek audiences. Characters so similar to the UK original and yet so immersed in Greek history, will create a unique comedy which we will be very proud to present to our viewers.”

The deals were brokered by Tommaso Muffato, Format Sales Director, Scripted, Global Entertainment.