Channel 4 commissions new Bash Doran drama Jerusalem (w/t)

23 August 2017

Channel 4 have commissioned Jerusalem (w/t), a brand new 6x60’period thriller set in the aftermath of the Second World War that centres around a seismic moment in history, when Britain was struggling to define itself in a new world order. Written and created by Bash Doran (Boardwalk Empire, Smash, Masters of Sex) this compelling fictional series will be produced by management and production company 42 and Twenty Twenty Television.

Jerusalem (w/t) revolves around Feef Symonds, a bold and ambitious 20-something woman who joins the Civil Service in 1945, just as Attlee's Labour party sweeps to victory, defeating Churchill in an electoral bolt from the blue. Her ambition to make something of her life, which goes unrecognised by her family, is furthermore complicated by her American lover.

Feef agrees to spy on her own government for the Americans, who have a hidden agenda in making sure England's burgeoning Socialist ambitions don't play into Soviet hands. Struggling to work out what she stands for, and what she’s capable of, Feef must learn to think for herself and play by her own rules at a time when knowledge becomes power and nothing and no-one is what they seem.

Today, as the world finds itself at the mercy of strained political relations and ever-shifting borders and alliances, Jerusalem explores another time wracked by similar fears and mistrusts and provides a fascinating insight into a time and place where the balance could tip either way, and where the fulcrum of power rests on a pinpoint.

Beth Willis, Head of Drama at Channel 4, says: “Bash's writing is so evocative and immersive you can’t help but to hold on tightly to her extraordinary and diverse cast of characters and never let them go. She has found contemporary resonance in the past at every turn. We are honoured and excited that Bash and the brilliant 42 and Twenty Twenty will be bringing 6 hours of this insightful, epic and sweeping tale to Channel 4.”

Bash Doran says: “I’m so excited and privileged to be able to write this show with Channel 4, 42 and Twenty Twenty.  It is my perspective on a defining moment in British history when the nation was divided and there was a fight for Britain’s soul.  I left England for America not long after I graduated. This show has always been for me an exploration of why I left and my way of coming home.”

Executive Producers Eleanor Moran, Tim Carter and Rory Aitken said: “We are hugely excited to be bringing Bash Doran’s first original series to the screen. Jerusalem (w/t) weaves a tense and emotionally charged spy thriller out of the surprisingly tortured relationship between Britain and America, which echoes down the decades and resonates more powerfully than ever in the era of Trump and Brexit. In Feef, Bash has created an extraordinarily modern heroine, who goes from government employee to reluctant traitor at a cost that she herself could never have imagined.”

Created and written by Bash Doran Jerusalem is produced by 42 and Twenty Twenty Television and will be Executive Produced by Eleanor Moran (Rome) and Rory Aitken (Watership Down) for 42 and Tim Carter (Garrow’s Law) for Twenty Twenty Television. Josh Varney and Ben Pugh will act as co-executive producers for 42. The 6X60’ series was commissioned for Channel 4 by Simon Maxwell, Head of International Drama, and Beth Willis Head of Drama and is co-funded by Channel 4 and all3Media international, with TX and casting details to be announced.

 

 

Notes to Editors:

Channel 4

Channel 4 is a publicly-owned, commercially-funded, not-for-profit public service broadcaster and has a remit to be innovative, experimental and distinctive. Its public ownership and not-for-profit status ensure all profit generated by its commercial activity is directly reinvested back into the delivery of its public service remit. As a publisher-broadcaster, Channel 4 is also required to commission UK content from the independent production sector and currently works with over 300 creative companies across the UK every year. In addition to the main Channel 4 service, its portfolio includes: E4, More4, Film4, 4Music, 4seven, Channel4.com and digital service All 4. For more information, visit: www.channel4.com/press

 

About all3media international

all3media international distributes popular, award-winning TV programmes to over 1,000 broadcasters and media platforms around the world.

The company has been celebrated for producing, marketing and distributing quality, ground-breaking and pioneering shows to global audience – consistently topping the Broadcast and Televisual annual Indies Surveys and we have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of our growth – twice.

Our catalogue contains over 8,500 hours of content across all genres, with a focus on drama, comedy, factual, entertainment and formats. As well as Britain’s top-selling series Midsomer Murders, our lead dramas include National Treasure, The Missing, Clique, Safe House, Indian Summers, Liar and Hinterland. Our contemporary comedy slate features Fleabag and GameFace. Factual, entertainment and format bestsellers include Gogglebox, Undercover Boss, Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, The Gadget Show and The Cube.

As part of the UK’s leading multi-label studio we partner with UK and international producers – including our own studios – in developing, financing and delivering content and formats.

 

Twenty Twenty Productions

Warner Bros owned Twenty Twenty Productions is a leading British production company renowned for its smart, innovative, heart and soul alternative formats that sell around the globe, winning BAFTAs and Emmys. Our shows like The Choir are transformative – both for those who take part, and we hope, for our viewers. Our biggest current show is First Dates, in its hundredth episode in the UK and now made in over a dozen territories around the world including the USA where it premiered on NBC. Twenty Twenty has a burgeoning reputation in drama with shows like Garrow’s Law and Second Sight, and is currently partnering with 42 on a number of scripted projects, including The Civil Servant.

42
42 is a management and production company, with offices in London and LA. Established in 2013 and run by partners: producers Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh; and managers Kate Buckley and Josh Varney.
42’s actor roster includes Michael Caine, Nicholas Hoult, Rhys Ifans, Rupert Friend, Jonny Lee Miller, Paul Anderson, Sofia Boutella and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Writers and directors represented include Claire Denis, Darius Marder, Eran Creevy, Tom Harper and Lynne Ramsay. 

Films currently in production include André Øvredal’s MORTAL, a fantasy adventure based on ancient Norwegian mythology.  Projects in post-production include THE TITAN starring Sam Worthington and Taylor Schilling, IN DARKNESS, directed by Anthony Byrne and starring Natalie Dormer and Ed Skrein; and Shanghai-set action adventure S.M.A.R.T. CHASE starring Orlando Bloom.  Previous film credits include Øvredal’s THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE; Eran Creevy’s  COLLIDE, starring Nicholas Hoult, Felicity Jones, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Ben Kingsley and war drama SAND CASTLE which was released on Netflix globally in  April 2017.  THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, WELCOME TO THE PUNCH, exec produced by Ridley Scott; and the BAFTA-nominated feature film SHIFTY.

42’s TV projects include WATERSHIP DOWN, a 4 x 1 hour animated mini-series for BBC and Netflix, adapted from the global best-selling book by Richard Adams, written by Tom Bidwell and starring James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, John Boyega, Sir Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton and Olivia Colman; The Civil Servant, a 6 part drama series commissioned by Channel 4, written by Bash Doran and several other series in development with UK and US broadcasters.

42 has a television output deal in the UK with distributor ITV Studios Global Entertainment; and a first look deal in the US with ITV Studios