MBC Group to adapt Doctor Foster, signs Turkish drama volume deal

UK psychological drama series Doctor Foster

MIPCOM: MENA media powerhouse MBC Group has unveiled a couple of high-profile scripted deals this week in Cannes.

The group has licensed format rights for Bafta award-winning UK drama Doctor Foster with BBC Studios, making it the first Arab-language adaptation for the region.

The drama, which was originally created by Mike Bartlett and produced by Drama Republic, focuses on a medical doctor whose life unravels as she begins to suspect her husband of having an affair.

The MBC version is already in production by Turkish prodco Medyapim, which has previously adapted a local Turkish version of the format. MBC plans to make the series available on its linear MBC channels as well as VoD streaming platform Shahid, spanning Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and north-west Africa.

Doctor Foster has previously been adapted in France, India, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines.

It is the second format agreement between BBCS and MBC, which earlier this year commissioned an Arabic-language version of workplace comedy The Office.

In a separate deal, MBC Group has signed a five-year output and co-development deal with Medyapim and fellow Turkish prodco Ay Yapim.

The new partnership covers exclusive first-look and volume licensing agreements for Turkish titles to air on MBC’s channels and streaming platform. It also includes a pact to exchange knowhow and co-develop original Arabic-language content for the MENA region, to be filmed in Saudi Arabia.
No titles or start dates have been unveiled yet.

MBC was the first company to launch an Ay Yapim series on its channels 15 years ago. Turkish drama continues to remain very popular in the region.