New Channel 4 drama anthology; On the Edge debuts this August

25 July 2018

Channel 4 launches a brand new three-part drama anthology (3 x 30) across one week this August collectively titled On The Edge. The week will showcase the work of three rising star writers and directors as part of the 4Stories initiative, the channel’s commitment to finding diverse debut drama talent.

Each drama was penned by a debut female writer and directed by directors from diverse backgrounds, who will get a national broadcast credit for the very first time.

The three bold, distinct but thematically linked films shine a light on key perspectives in criminal justice - the story of a criminal, a witness and a victim - and serve up a raw slice of real life in contemporary Britain.

The cast across the anthology includes BAFTA winner Chanel Cresswell (This is England, Trollied, The Aliens, My Name is Lenny, Murdered for Being Different, The Split), BAFTA winner Wunmi Mosaku (The End of the F***ing World, Damilola, Our Loved Boy, Kiri, Guerrilla, Luther), Alexandra Roach (No Offence, Utopia), Ria Zimitrowicz (Three Girls, Mr Selfridge), Craig Parkinson (Line of Duty, Indian Summers, Misfits) and Nadine Marshall (Save Me, National Treasure, Second Coming). Carryl Thomas (Family Affairs, Le Grand), Cyril Nri (The Bill, Cucumber, Jellyfish) and Richard Harrington (Hinterland, Requiem, Poldark, Bleak House, Larkrise to Candleford) complete the cast.

Jonny Richards, Commissioning Executive for Channel 4 Drama said:

“We’re so excited that audiences can watch these three brilliant new dramas across one week on Channel 4.  Led by a stellar cast, they take a bold and uncompromising look at life in Britain today, and showcase some of the country’s finest new talent.”

Ben Bickerton, Executive Producer for BlackLight said: “There’s nothing more rewarding for us than finding and working with exciting new talent and discovering their unique perspective on the world. It’s fantastic that Channel 4 support such bold and original drama from new voices.”

Executive produced by Philip Trethowan and Ben Bickerton and produced by Lisa Walters, who joined Blacklight (a Banijay Group company) after several years nurturing new talent at Channel 4 Drama.

The project is exclusively reserved to writers and directors yet to gain an original broadcast drama credit. Applications for writers and directors to apply for 4Stories series two will go live this August.

 

About the films:

Through the Gates is written by Georgia Christou and directed by Stella Corradi. Aimee (Ria Zmitrowicz) has spent most of her young, chaotic life in and out of prison. Tessa (Wunmi Mosaku) is the disillusioned parole officer in charge of Aimee’s welfare after her release, living her own life of organised chaos, under the watchful eye of boss, Mark (Craig Parkinson). Although from different worlds, both are trapped in cycles they can’t escape. Can they help each other find a way out?