Channel 4 acquires After The Party from ITV Studios starring Peter Mullan and Robyn Malcolm
Category: News Release
20 March 2024
Channel 4 is to own the UK rights to air After The Party from Lingo Pictures, a new critically acclaimed six-part thrilling drama based in Aotearoa/New Zealand about a woman who loses everything when she accuses her husband of a sex crime against her daughter’s teenage friend and no one believes her.
Penny Wilding played by Robyn Malcolm (Outrageous Fortune, Black Bird, Top of the Lake), is a science teacher, basketball coach, environmental activist, mother and grandmother. Penny tells it like it is, whether she’s waging graffiti attacks on fishing boats, lecturing teenage boys on how porn will destroy their sex lives or laying her middle-aged body bare for life-drawing artists. Her attitude wins her few friends in her close-knit coastal town of Wellington, and Penny’s fine with that.
But five years ago, Penny’s world imploded when she accused her husband Phil played by Peter Mullan (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Westworld, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) of a sex crime and nobody believed her. When Penny’s now ex-husband returns to town, her daughter pressures her to let go of her accusations and move on. As her old furies rise to the surface, Penny must decide what’s more important – the truth or rebuilding her relationships with everyone around her?
From award-winning producers Lingo Pictures (The Secrets She Keeps, Lambs of God, and Upright), part of ITV Studios, and Luminous Beast, After The Party is an original commission for TVNZ in New Zealand and is made in association with and distributed by ITV Studios who brokered the deal.
Helen Bowden, Producer said: “Channel 4 is the perfect place for After the Party to screen in the UK. It’s the home of bold, authentic drama and Lingo Pictures and Luminous Beast are thrilled at this news.”
Polly Scates, Head of Acquisitions at Channel 4 said: “We’re thrilled that Channel 4 will be the UK home of After the Party. Full of twists, turns and stunning performances, this important series is sure to keep audiences guessing and stay with them long after the final episode."
After The Party will be available soon to stream and watch live on Channel 4.
After The Party attracted an average 34% share of all viewers across the series when it aired on TVNZ and received huge critical acclaim in the Aotearoa/New Zealand press. The Spinoff called it “NZ’s best TV drama in years” and The Post declared it "A solid, gripping drama worthy of your time".
**ENDS**
For more information, please email Debra Clavey, Publicity Manager, Scripted at Channel 4:
About Channel 4:
Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.
The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For over 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.
Through a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with around 300 creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.
In 2020, Channel 4 launched its Future4 strategy to become a digital-first public service media company and to continue to deliver significant impact for UK audiences and investment into the UK creative economy.
Across its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is turbocharging its efforts to find, nurture and develop talent across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills, Channel 4 is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people, and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions.
Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service plus 11 television channels including: Channel 4, E4, E4 Extra, More4, Film4, 4Seven and The Box Plus Network. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 37 Oscar wins and 88 BAFTA wins in its history.
Contacts
Share this content