Foxtel locks down more Wentworth

FremantleMedia Australia’s prison drama Wentworth

Australia’s Foxtel has ordered a fifth season of prison drama Wentworth, one of the most watched programmes on its SoHo channel.

FremantleMedia Australia will start production on a further 12 episodes in Melbourne next month. Season four reaches its climax next Tuesday. The premiere episode drew 160,000 viewers overnight, a 33% increase on last year’s premiere, and the show attracts significant catch-up viewing.

Distributed by FremantleMedia International, the series set in a women’s prison has sold to 141 territories and prompted several remakes, the first in Germany as Block B – Unter Arrest.

Last week Belgian commercial broadcaster Vier commissioned a Flemish-language version.

The Dutch adaptation, Celblok H, recently completed its third season on SBS6 and FremantleMedia is hopeful of a renewal.

Foxtel head of drama Penny Win said: “Wentworth has gone from strength to strength over the past four seasons. It is a ratings blockbuster and fan favourite for Foxtel audiences. It was a very easy decision to commission a further season of this brilliantly constructed and crafted programme from our production partner FremantleMedia. There is a lot in store both for the women behind bars and those on the outside.”

FMA director of drama and Wentworth EP Jo Porter added: “Wentworth has built a reputation for delivering a world with unexpected twists and turns where no character is safe. The season’s end provides a chilling platform for our script producer Marcia Gardner and the writing team to shape the next chapter for our regular characters, along with some new faces in the yard and on the outside.

“With series producer Pino Amenta at the helm, our ambition to keep lifting the bar and reward our audience both locally and internationally couldn’t be stronger.”