Aussie drama duo heads to Channel 5, UKTV

CJZ Productions’ My Life is Murder was ordered by Network Ten

UK-based broadcasters Channel 5 and UKTV have picked up a pair of Australian drama series from distributor DCD Rights.

The Hunting, produced by Closer Productions for Australian pubcaster SBS, has been bought by C5’s acquisitions director Anna-Belen Dunlop for the Viacom-owned terrestrial channel’s primetime schedule.

The 4×60’ series will premiere in Australia on August 1 with the UK bow to follow later in the year. The plot imagines the lives of four teenagers, their teachers and families throughout the lead-up, revelation and aftermath of a nude teen photo scandal.

My Life is Murder, meanwhile, is from CJZ Productions for Network Ten and has been picked up by multichannel operator UKTV for its crime drama channel Alibi.

The 10×60’ series premieres in Australia today and will appear in Alibi’s schedules in September. It follows an investigator, played by Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, Ash vs Evil Dead, Top Of The Lake), who can’t help fighting the good fight, whether it’s solving murders or combating the small frustrations of everyday life. The acquisition was secured for UKTV by Charlie Charalambous, acquisitions manager.