Dominic Savage’s BAFTA-Nominated Anthology Series I Am to Return to Channel 4

28 July 2020

Suranne Jones to star in I Am Victoria, along with Ashley Walters

I Am, the critically acclaimed, female-led drama anthology series from award-winning writer-director Dominic Savage has been recommissioned by Channel 4.

Produced by Emmy winning Me+You Productions, the brand new 3x60” series enters production in early August, with BAFTA-winning actress Suranne Jones (Doctor Foster, Gentleman Jack) confirmed to star in I Am Victoria, alongside co-star Ashley Walters (Top Boy, Bulletproof). Further names are yet to be announced.

Each episode of the three-part series will be developed and written by Dominic Savage in collaboration with the leading actor – for whom, in each case, the story will have personal resonance.

This will be an authentic and thought-provoking series exploring contemporary female experiences and themes, including trust, relationships and mental health.

Suranne Jones said: “I’m delighted to be involved in the next series of I Am. Dominic always tells important stories with great sensitivity and the process so far has been wonderfully collaborative and open which is something I thrive on. I can’t wait to make what will be a very personal and thought-provoking piece and I’m thrilled to be telling this story with Ashley. I hope it really speaks to people and helps continue the important discussions around mental health.”

I Am became Channel 4’s most successful new 10pm drama in six years when it debuted in August 2019, with BAFTA-winning Vicky McClure starring in I Am Nicola; Oscar; BAFTA-nominated Samantha Morton starring in I Am Kirsty; and Gemma Chan starring in I Am Hannah.

As well as its nomination at this year’s BAFTA Television Awards (Leading Actress for Samantha Morton in I Am Kirsty), I Am was nominated for the Best Original Programme and Best Single Drama at the Broadcast Awards; for Best TV Movie at the C21 International Drama Awards; as Best New Drama in the TV Choice Awards; and for Photography (Drama & Comedy) at the RTS Craft Awards. Samantha Morton also won the WFTV Performance Award for her performance in I Am Kirsty.

Writer, Director and Creator Dominic Savage said: “I am looking forward greatly to making another series of female led stories with such amazing and incredibly talented actors, starting with Suranne. It is a privilege to be telling such personal and important stories in this unique and collaborative way. These will be inspirational, relatable, and truthful tales of courage and hope, that shine a light on the difficult and challenging aspects of all of our lives.”

Caroline Hollick, Head of Drama Channel 4 said: “We are utterly delighted to bring back this groundbreaking series. Suranne and Dominic have created a truly iconic, heart-rending character in ‘Victoria’, and I cannot wait to see how their extraordinary creative vision unfolds on-screen.”

Richard Yee, Executive Producer, co-founder, Me+You said: “We’re excited about renewing our creative relationship with Dominic Savage, one of the most distinctive and powerful filmmakers working today and thrilled to be working with the brilliant Suranne Jones and Ashley Walters. We’re looking forward to seeing the fruits of their collaboration on screen and are grateful for the platform and support Channel 4 have given us.”

I Am is produced by Me+You Productions. Executive Producers are Richard Yee and Dominic Savage, with Head of Drama, Caroline Hollick and Head of Development Gemma Boswell overseeing. The Series is produced by Me+You co-founder Krishnendu Majumdar with co-producer Josh Hyams (The Trip). I Am is co-funded by Sky Studios and international sales are handled by NBCU Global Distribution.

Notes to Editors
About Me+You Productions
Me + You Productions is an independent film and television production company founded by EMMY winning producers Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar. They make cinematic, authored drama and comedy with the very best creative talent and have a track record in making global hit series.
www.meandyouproductions.co.uk

About Sky Studios
Sky Studios brings to screen unique stories from the very best talent in Europe.
We develop, produce and fund original drama, comedy and documentary for Sky’s 24m customers and beyond, with 52 scripted shows already in production. Building on the success of critically-acclaimed Sky originals including Emmy-winning Chernobyl, Bafta-winning Patrick Melrose and international hits Babylon Berlin and Riviera, Sky Studios is the new creative home of Sky originals, such as The Third Day with Jude Law, ZeroZeroZero from the makers of Gomorrah and The New Pope directed by Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino.

We’re an agile Studio, seeking out the best untold stories from new voices while working in creative partnership with today’s best writers, producers and on-screen talent to bring viewers stories they wouldn’t find anywhere else.
With commissioning talent and production capability across the UK, Germany and Italy, we understand local tastes across Europe better than anyone else and have plans to more than double our investment in original content by 2024, fully supported and backed by Comcast NBC Universal.

We’re also developing a new TV and movie studio, Sky Studios Elstree, which is expected to lead to the creation of over 2,000 new jobs and generate an additional £3 billion of production investment in UK creative sector in the first five years alone.

Sky Studios invests in the cultural economy and global production sector with equity stakes in nine production companies in the UK and the US, including Great British Bake-Off creator Love Productions, and the premiere reality crime producer in the US, Jupiter Entertainment, creator of long-running hit Snapped. Sky Studios has invested in high quality factual specialists Blast Films and True North Productions; entertainment and format expert Znak & Co (US & UK); natural history producer True to Nature; drama producers The Lighthouse and Longboat Pictures; and growth businesses Sugar Films, Chrysalis Vision, and Talos Films (US).

Sky Studios launched in June 2019. The senior leadership team is Chief Executive Officer Gary Davey, Chief Commercial Officer Jane Millichip, Chief Finance Officer Caroline Cooper, Director of Drama UK Cameron Roach, Director of Comedy UK Jon Mountague, Director Original Production Sky Italia Nils Hartmann, and Director Original Productions Sky Deutschland Marcus Ammon.

Publicity:
For more information, please contact Multitude Media:
Amanda Hearn, PR Director - TV: amanda.hearn@multitudemedia.co.uk
Nora Dunne, Publicist: nora.dunne@multitudemedia.co.uk
For Channel 4: Georgie Hobbs ghobbs@channel4.co.uk