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Channel 5 reels in loan sharks doc

UK broadcaster Channel 5 (C5) has ordered original documentaries looking at subjects including loan sharks, life in a tower block and the work of a hospital emergency department to beef up its factual slate.

Ben Frow

C5 has commissioned five new series tackling everyday stories from around the UK: The Loan Shop; Tower Block Kids; Casualty 24/7; Single Mum, Super Mum; and Gangland II.

Produced by London-based Century Films, The Loan Shop addresses nationwide concerns about household money problems, offering insights into why so many people need to borrow cash. Brian Hill, MD of Century Films, will exec produce.

Tower Block Kids, from factual indie Crackit Productions, follows eight children from the north and south of the UK to find out what it’s like for a young person growing up in a tower block community.

Also produced by Crackit, Casualty 24/7 focuses on the work of a busy accident and emergency team at a Yorkshire hospital. Crackit’s founder and creative director Elaine Hackett exec produces both series.

Three-parter Single Mum, Super Mum, produced by Manchester-based prodco Blakeway North, is an observational documentary charting the highs and lows of single motherhood and the prejudices loan mums can face. Fran Baker at Blakeway North serves as exec producer.

Finally, C5 has confirmed its order for Maroon Productions’ follow-up series Gangland II, previously reported by C21. In the original show, cameras were dropped off in specific locations to allow urban gang members to film themselves.

Guy Davies

The new series uses this access to also explore the devastating effects of the UK’s knife crime epidemic. Paul Blake, creative director at Maroon Productions, exec produces.

C5 factual commissioning editor Guy Davies ordered The Loan Shop, Casualty 24/7 and Gangland II, while Sebastian Cardwell, channel manager and commissioning executive, commissioned Tower Block Kids. Single Mum, Super Mum was lined up by Daniel Pearl, commissioning editor at C5.

“The commissions announced today underline our continued commitment to making programmes that reflect the lives and stories of people throughout Britain,” said Ben Frow, director of programmes at C5.

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