All3 sails for Little Island

All3Media International has signed an exclusive first-look deal with UK drama indie Little Island Productions and is working with the firm on its new Stephen Poliakoff series for the BBC.

All3 International is part of the same business as Company Pictures, whose head of productions, Helen Flint, and her deputy, Alex Protherough, left 18 months ago to set up Little Island.

Their latest production is Close to the Enemy, an upcoming BBC2 period drama by multi award-winning writer and director Poliakoff, whose prior credits include Dancing on the Edge.

Commissioned by outgoing BBC drama controller Ben Stephenson and BBC2 drama controller Kim Shillinglaw, Close to the Enemy is a six-parter produced in association with Endor Productions.

Filming has begun on the series, set in a bomb-damaged London hotel in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Jim Sturgess stars as an intelligence officer whose last task for the army is to ensure that a captured German scientist starts working for the RAF on  developing the jet engine. Eventually a friendship develops between the pair but tensions soon arise as all is not as it seems.

Little Island recently produced Galavant for ABC in the US and acted as production execs for AMC’s Thief Takers and Channel 4’s Indian Summers as well as working with Endor on new Agatha Christie TV adaptation Partners in Crime, starring David Walliams.

Flint is a long-time collaborator with Poliakoff on productions such as Shooting the Past and Perfect Strangers.

Commenting on the new series, Stephenson said: “With Stephen’s usual flair and attention to detail, Close to the Enemy is a hugely compelling drama which shines a light on a fascinating piece of British history. An amazing cast, wonderful design and original music will create an unmissable new period drama for BBC2.”

Steve Macallister, who took over as CEO of All3 International earlier this year, said of the first-look deal: “In just over a year, Little Island has established an impressive portfolio of high-end scripted drama, featuring a roster of renowned talent, and we’re looking forward to fulfilling the huge potential of their productions on the international stage.”