We’ve had the BBC’s Original British Drama campaign, now its ITV’s turn to show us what drama’s they have to offer for the Autumn in their new and returning drama’s as they launch the ‘Drama Lives on ITV’ campaign.
A full 120 second brand trail has been airing at 9pm, in a junction roadblock across ITV1, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4. Then on Saturday 18th August, during the launch show of X Factor on ITV1, programme specific ITV drama trails will air throughout the night, including a first look at the third series of Downton Abbey.
ITV Director of Drama, Laura Mackie said:
“We have a really strong and diverse line-up of drama coming to ITV over the forthcoming months. Brilliant writers and directors and an outstanding array of acting talent will entertain our audiences and the Drama Lives on ITV campaign showcases the breadth and variety of our output.”
The Drama Lives on ITV brand campaign trail includes exerts of the following programmes, commissioned by ITV Director of Drama, Laura Mackie, and ITV Controller of Drama, Sally Haynes.
Mrs Biggs
Sheridan Smith plays the title role of Charmian Biggs, with Daniel Mays assuming the role of Ronnie Biggs in the five-part series from ITV Studios. Written by Jeff Pope (Executive Producer – Appropriate Adult, Mo), Mrs Biggs tells the story of Charmian’s life with Ron before, during and after his involvement in the Great Train Robbery.
The Bletchley Circle
BAFTA award winner Anna Maxwell Martin stars alongside Rachael Stirling, Sophie Rundle and Julie Graham in this compelling new three-part thriller from World Productions. The drama focuses on four women, each with unique intelligence gathering skills, who worked at Bletchley Park during World War II. They unite post War with the aim of tracking down a murderer.
Downton Abbey series 3
The third series, set in 1920, sees the return of the much-loved characters and the arrival of Shirley MacLaine as Cora’s mother, Martha Levinson who sweeps into Downton Abbey causing a stir above and below stairs.
Homefront
Claire Skinner, Clare Higgins, Nicola Stephenson and Antonia Thomas are the military wives and girlfriends in this ITV Studios new contemporary drama series about the women who fight the battles on the ‘homefront’ whilst their men are in Afghanistan risking their lives.
The Last Weekend
Rupert Penry-Jones and Shaun Evans star in Mick Ford’s adaptation of Blake Morrison’s best-selling suspense thriller about two friends whose competitiveness reaches extreme heights over an August Bank Holiday weekend.
Leaving
Three-part drama starring Helen McCrory and newcomer Callum Turner about a woman who falls in love with a much younger man and the implications of that relationship for their families and how it effects them at work. Leaving is produced by Red Production Company and written and created by acclaimed screenwriter Tony Marchant.
Monroe
Medical drama starring James Nesbitt returns to ITV1 with a strong ensemble cast including Sarah Parish, Tom Riley, Christina Chong, Michelle Asante, Luke Allen-Gale and Andrew Gower. For this new series the cast are joined by Tracy-Ann Oberman, Neil Pearson and Lisa Millet. Created by BAFTA award winning writer Peter Bowker and produced by Mammoth Screen.
A Mother’s Son
Hermione Norris, Martin Clunes, Paul McGann and Alexander Arnold star in this two part drama from ITV Studios about a mother who suspects her son may have murdered a school friend. Are her suspicions misplaced?
The Scapegoat
An adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s classic novel, starring Matthew Rhys, Sheridan Smith, Eileen Atkins, Jodhi May and Andrew Scott. The Scapegoat tells the story of two very different men – John Standing and Johnny Spence – who are doppelgangers. They meet by chance each at a crossroads in their life and after an alcohol fuelled night John finds himself sucked into another man’s life. An Island Pictures Production written and directed by Charles Sturridge.
Mr Selfridge
A stellar ensemble cast including Jeremy Piven, Katherine Kelly, Frances O’Connor, Zoe Tapper, Gregory Fitoussi, Amanda Abbington, Samuel West and Aisling Loftus star in this new series penned by multi award winning writer Andrew Davies. Mr Selfridge is based on the life of the flamboyant and visionary American entrepreneur, Harry Gordon Selfridge and is produced by ITV Studios.
Switch
Take four girls, add some flirting, stir in a quantity of heady rebelliousness, a pinch of risk-taking, several spoonfuls of true friendship and Stella, Jude, Grace and Hannah are born. Four young twenty somethings based in London’s Camden Town who just happen to be witches!
They are the potent mix of characters in ITV2’s new homegrown drama, Switch. Ordered by Director of Digital Channels and Acquisitions, Angela Jain, Switch is produced by Touchpaper Television and stars Lacey Turner, Nina Toussaint-White, Phoebe Fox and Hannah Tointon.
Watch the trailer…