Channel 5 expands drama portfolio by boarding HMS Murder with Clapperboard

Paramount-owned UK terrestrial Channel 5 has added to its expanding scripted slate by commissioning a murder-mystery series produced by Clapperboard in association with Endeavor Content.

Prentiss Fraser

HMS Murder (working title) is set aboard a Mediterranean cruise liner where a murder occurs during a voyage, thrusting the ship’s cabaret singer back into his former life as a detective.

The 8×60’ series was ordered by Paul Testar, commissioning executive for drama at C5 and Paramount+. The executive producers for Clapperboard are Mike Benson and Paul Matthew Thompson, with producer Sandra MacIver. Gordon Anderson joins as director and Paul Matthew Thompson is lead writer.

Endeavor Content will handle worldwide distribution of the series. Prentiss Fraser, the company’s exec VP of television distribution, described the series as “Murder She Wrote meets Below Deck.”

Filming on HMS Murder is due to start later this year, across eight different countries as well as a 6,000-cabin luxury cruise liner. Casting details will be announced in the coming months.

Clapperboard has previously worked on drama series Desperate Measures and The Winter Child for C5.