Scandi nets pre-buy The Collection

The Collection is currently shooting in France and Wales

MIPTV: Broadcasters in Scandinavia have inked pre-sales with BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) for new eight-part Anglo-French drama The Collection.

The 8×50’ period show – from coproducers Lookout Point, Artis Pictures, Federation Entertainment and MFP – has been picked up by Sweden’s SVT and DR in Denmark on the eve of the show’s MipTV launch.

These deals come after the initial greenlights from BBCWW, Amazon Prime and France Télévisions. The show marks a major step into international drama coproduction for French public broadcaster France 3.

BBCWW and Lookout Point
are launching the show in Cannes

The show is set in the world of French haute couture after the Second World War, and follows a family-owned fashion house. It promises to “expose the grit behind the glamour and the treachery beneath the trappings of this empire.”

From writer, creator and showrunner Oliver Goldstick (Pretty Little Liars, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives) and Emmy-winning director Dearbhla Walsh (Penny Dreadful), The Collection tops the slate for BBCWW here in Cannes.

It stars Tom Riley (Da Vinci’s Demons), Mamie Gummer (The Good Wife), Richard Coyle (Crossbones) and Alix Poisson (Disparue), all of whom are at MipTV today to promote the series to global buyers, alongside Goldstick and Walsh.

“Post-war Paris is the perfect setting for The Collection’s thrilling combination of intrigue and glamour and, following the finale of Downton Abbey, promises to captivate our Saturday night audience,” said Stephen Mowbray, head of acquisitions at SVT.

Kaare Schmidt, series acquisitions exec at DR, added: “The Collection promises an epic drama – an odd mix of affluence and social tragedies at the dawn of our present time. It’s a compelling concept on a big canvas, which DR is proud to present.”

The show also stars Frances de la Tour (The Lady in the Van), Jenna Thiam (The Returned) and Irène Jacob (Three Colours Red). The Collection is exec produced by Anne Thomopoulos (Band of Brothers), Kate Croft (Murderland) and Pascal Breton (Marseille).