Four new contemporary dramas from Granada

Granada International will be unveiling a foursome of new ITV dramas this coming MIPCOM: a courtroom drama, a rom-com, a thriller and a crime caper based on a true story.

Starring Derek Jacobi and Antony Sher, The Jury is a 6×60' series for ITV. In it, a white teenager is killed by a reclusive Sikh classmate, whose trial forms the basis of the show. The jury – an ensemble thrown together by fate – must decide, as the media's spotlight focuses on them.

Jacobi and Sher play opposing barristers, with Mark Strong, Michael Maloney and Jack Shepherd rounding out the cast. Directed by Pete Travis (Cold Feet) and produced by Francis Hopkinson (Little Bird), the show is completed and will air on ITV in January.

The team behind Cold Feet have also completed a three-parter called I Saw You, based on an BANFF-winning pilot shown on ITV last year.

Starring Cold Feet's Fay Ripley and Paul Rhys (The Innocent), the romantic comedy follows the on-off relationship between a cynical single mother and her romantic optician.

Tom Vaugh directs, Christine Langan produces and David Nicholls supplied the script – all of whom have Cold Feet backgrounds. Shot in Bristol, the show airs on ITV this autumn.

Next up is Blood Strangers, starring Caroline Quentin (Jonathan Creek, Kiss Me Kate). The charged 2×90' thriller is currently before the cameras, with a tx on ITV in early 2002.

It follows a family who receive news that the youngest daughter has been found dead, and later discover that she had been a teenage prostitute for years. Alongside Quentin star Paul McGann (Our Mutual Friend) and Sheridan Smith (The Royle Family).

More used to directing serious documentaries, Gwyneth Hughes wrote the script, Jon Jones directs, Saurabh produces and Hugh Warren exec produces. Production wraps in four weeks.

Finally, Granada will be shopping another Quentin vehicle, Hot Money. Inspired by real events, the two-hour show tells the story of three ordinary women who embark on an ingenious raid on the Bank of England. Starring with Quentin are Melanie Hill (Playing the Field) and Georgia Mackenzie (A Touch of Frost).

Director Terry Windsor (Essex Boys) co-wrote the show with Neil McKay, while Jeff Pope exec produces. Production has wrapped with an ITV tx date in 2002.

All shows are Granada Television productions, with the last coming from the Factual Drama department.