BBC One announces new drama commissions

Inspector George Gently recommissioned

BBC Controller of Drama Ben Stephenson has announced 31 hours of new drama commissions including five new commissions and the recommission of ‘Inspector George Gently.’ BBC One’s will also continue its commitment to continuing drama series including; EastEnders, Holby, Casualty and Waterloo Road.

Ben Stephenson says: “2012 has been a record-breaking and award-winning year for BBC Drama and our new 31 hours of programming illustrates our sheer dedication to British Drama.

“The BBC commissions more drama than any other broadcaster with over 450 hours of drama a year delivering a range of high quality, creative, ambitious television. We are the home of British Drama and combine the UK’s hottest talent both on and off screen to produce the highest quality programmes that aim to up the ambition and scale of our output.”

The five new drama commissions and ‘Inspector George Gently‘ info is as follows:

What Remains

A 4×60 serial written by Tony Basgallop (Inside Men) and made by BBC Drama Production.

The body of Melissa Young, a 30-year-old single woman, is found decomposed in the loft above her flat two years after her death. How is it that no one missed her, or even noticed that she was gone? What does that say about the life she lived or the society we occupy? And is her killer still at large?

What Remains is a state-of-the-nation whodunit, in which the neighbouring residents are the chief suspects. Every flat has its own story to tell, in equal weight. In one way or another they all had some sort of connection with the victim. By turns she was bullied by them, she was harassed, or she was simply ignored. She was secretly in love with one of them. And as we will ultimately discover, she was killed by someone very close to home.

The BBC executive producer is Hilary Salmon.

The Escape Artist

A 3×60 serial written by David Wolstencroft (Spooks) and made by Endor Productions.

Will Burton a talented junior barrister of peerless intellect and winning charm who specialises in spiriting people out of tight legal corners. He is in high demand as he has never lost a case. But when his talents acquit the notorious prime suspect in an horrific murder trial, that brilliance comes back to bite him with unexpected and chilling results… not to mention a shocking twist in the tale.

The producers for Endor Productions are Hilary Bevan Jones and Paul Frift. Matthew Read is the executive producer for the BBC.

The Great Train Robbery

A two-part serial (2×90) written by Chris Chibnall, World Productions.

From the team behind BBC Two’s critically-acclaimed United come two films telling the stories behind the most infamous heist in British history on its 50th anniversary: ‘The Robbers’ Tale’ tells the story of the gang whose audacious crime secured unheard of wealth and the wrath of the Establishment. ‘The Coppers’ Tale’ tells the story of Tommy Butler and the crack team of detectives he assembled in his relentless quest to bring the robbers to justice.

Directed by James Strong, executive produced by Simon Heath and produced by Julia Stannard for World Productions and executive produced by Polly Hill for the BBC.

Happy Valley

A 6×60 series written by Sally Wainwright (Last Tango In Halifax, Scott & Bailey) and made by Red Production Company.

Catherine Crowther is the sergeant on duty when flustered, nervous-looking accountant Colin Weatherill comes into her West Yorkshire police station to report a crime. He’s reticent about the details and Colin loses his nerve. The crime he was trying to report was Colin’s own brain-child, a plot to kidnap his boss’s daughter and keep enough of the ransom to put his kids through private school. And now local drug king-pin David Cowgill has put the plan into action, and Colin’s fantasy has become a grim and dangerous reality. The botched kidnapping of eccentric, angry Ann Gallagher and its fallout unfolds… Catherine is used to picking up the pieces of everyone else’s lives but the hunt for Ann Gallagher will get right under her skin. Catherine becomes convinced that only by finding Ann alive and bringing her captors to justice can she avenge the death of her daughter.

The executive producer for Red is Nicola Shindler and Matthew Read for the BBC.

By Any Means

6×60 by Red Planet Pictures.

The thrilling drama follows a covert police department that, when the legal system fails, go to any lengths to bring the criminal elite to justice.

The series, created by a team of writers led by Tony Jordan, follows a clandestine police department run by maverick Jack Quinn. Shadowy and brilliant, the team go about their business, exploiting weaknesses, weaving a web of cunning and deception that leads the unwary target into the arms of justice, by any means.

The BBC executive producer is Polly Hill. Red Planet Pictures executive producers are Tony Jordan and Belinda Campbell.

Inspector George Gently: Series 7

4×90 produced by Company Pictures.

A year on and Gently (Martin Shaw) and Bacchus (Lee Ingleby) have both survived the shootings to fight another day.

Bacchus has put his life on the line for his boss, and this gives a new dimension to their relationship. Gently is recovering from injuries and is pushing himself back to fitness.

The new series will be set against the backdrop of 1969.

‘Inspector George Gently‘ gained an average audience of 5.8m earlier this year.

Company Pictures executive producers are Claire Ingham, Charles Pattinson and George Faber. The BBC executive producer is Polly Hill.