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Copro brings Primeval back from extinction Cancelled ITV science fiction drama Primeval is to return to UK and international screens following a deal between Impossible Pictures, BBC Worldwide (BBCWW), UKTV and ITV. ITV announced it was cancelling Primeval earlier this year due to the high cost of the show - which uses numerous CGI effects to render historic and futuristic creatures - and its intention to focus its efforts on post-watershed drama.  However, the broadcasters said today that 13 scripts are in development as a result of a strategy developed by Impossible's MD, Jonathan Drake, and implemented through BBCWW's international network. The funding package also ensures that the special effects that have made Primeval a hit will continue in the new series.Original coproduction partners ITV, ProSieben and BBCWW return to co-fund the new series, with the latter making the biggest investment. US cable network BBC America takes on a full coproduction credit for the first time and multi-channel broadcaster UKTV becomes a first-time investor. Drake said: "The dramatic changes in the business of broadcasting in the last 12 months have meant we have had to completely rethink how we put the funding together for a top-end series like Primeval. The fact that the series is so well established and loved, both in the UK and overseas, has meant that everyone has been willing to do their best to give us the backing we needed. "With the continued enthusiasm of coproducers such as ProSieben and the fantastic support of the team at BBCWW, we have stitched together a ground-breaking clutch of deals that will guarantee Primeval's ongoing success." The agreement also includes UKTV pre-investing in two new seasons of Primeval for its new entertainment pay-TV channel Watch. Series four will premiere on ITV1 in early 2011, while series five will receive its UK premiere on Watch later that year, ahead of ITV1. The new series will be showrun again by Adrian Hodges and will feature the return of stars from the previous series, including Hannah Spearritt, Andrew Lee Potts and Jason Flemyng. Jules Grant 29 Sep 2009 © C21 Media 2009 
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