Channel 4 Announces New 6-Part Drama Series: Screw

27 August 2020

Channel 4 has commissioned Screw, a new six-part prison drama series from STV Studios (the newly rebranded STV Productions), by BAFTA nominated writer Rob Williams (The Victim, Killing Eve).

This is prison as never seen before - the uncensored, terrifying and often darkly funny reality of life as a prison officer in an all-male prison in 21st century Britain.

At the head of our gang of embattled ‘screws’ is Leigh, a woman who has devoted her adult life to this prison and its troubled population. On a wing bursting at the seams, at the front line of a train-wreck of broken bureaucracy and short-term thinking, Leigh goes above and beyond for her prisoners. But Leigh has her own secrets and a past that if discovered, could cost much more than her job. Will mouthy young Rose, a new recruit with her own agenda, mark the end of the line for Leigh – or prove her unlikely saviour?

Writer Rob Williams said: “There is so much more to prison and those who live and work there, than misery and violence - and I’m incredibly proud to be working with STV and Channel 4 to show this in Screw, alongside the authenticity inspired by my experiences as a civilian worker in various prisons.” 

Sarah Brown, Creative Director of Drama for STV Studios said: “Channel 4 feels like the perfect home for Screw - we’re so excited to be working with the team to bring Rob Williams’ witty, subversive and memorable gang of prison officers to life on screen.”

Caroline Hollick, Channel 4 Head of Drama, said: “With previous experience of working in prisons, Rob’s writing comes from a truly authentic place, having had direct experience of a world which often comes with preconceived judgement. Screw offers the audience an insight in to the challenges and struggles faced behind bars for both prisoners and prison officers; told with humour, humanity and hope. Rob has approached this familiar genre with a brand-new, fresh perspective, and we can’t wait for audiences to fall for his distinctive, flawed yet loveable characters.”

Screw is an STV Studios production for Channel 4, commissioned by Caroline Hollick, Channel 4 Head of Drama and overseen by Lee Mason, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor and Gemma Boswell, Channel 4 Head of Development.  Rob Williams is Creator, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, with Karla Crome (The Stranger) joining the writing team.  Sarah Brown is Executive Producer for STV Studios (The Victim, Elizabeth is Missing) and Brian Kaczynski, Producer (The Cry, Peaky Blinders). Banijay Rights will manage global distribution for the series.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

About STV Studios

STV Studios is one of the UK’s leading content businesses and is Scotland’s biggest production company. Led by award-winning executive David Mortimer, the company has an impressive track-record of success across drama, entertainment and factual, with commissions spanning BBC One and Two, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC Scotland, Discovery, VH1/MTV and Sky One.

In Scripted, STV Studios’ 2019 drama The Victim was a critical and ratings success for BBC One. The four-part thriller was nominated for a BAFTA in the Best Mini-Series category and saw leading actress, Kelly Macdonald, receive a BAFTA Scotland Award for her role.  TV film Elizabeth is Missing, featuring two time Academy Award winner Glenda Jackson, was broadcast on BBC One in 2019. The drama was met with universal acclaim and has garnered numerous awards and nominations. It was shortlisted for a BAFTA TV Award in the Single Drama category in 2020, and Glenda Jackson won the prestigious leading actress BAFTA for her exceptional performance.  Unscripted formats include 20 series of Antiques Road Trip and nine series of sister programme, Celebrity Antiques Road Trip for BBC, with a further 140 episodes in production; six series of Catchphrase and five of Celebrity Catchphrase for ITV; The Yorkshire Auctioneer, a ten-part factual series for Discovery and The Palace and the Press for Channel 5.

In 2019, STV Studios acquired a majority stake in award-winning unscripted producer Primal Media; holds a minority stake in high-end drama producer, Two Cities; and is exclusive production partner to drama company, Tod Productions.

www.stvstudios.com

 

Press enquiries to:

Susan Wilks   swilks@channel4.co.uk