UK drama Best Interests picked up by international buyers in Fifth Season deals

Michael Sheen and Sharon Horgan in drama Best Interests

Broadcasters and platforms across Europe and the Asia-Pacific have acquired BBC One drama Best Interests, created and written by Bafta-winning writer Jack Thorne (Help, His Dark Materials, The Virtues).

The 4×60’/6×45’ series, which debuted on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK in June 2023, has been licensed by Fifth Season to France Télévisions (France), RTÉ (Ireland), ABC (Australia), Hot (Israel), Antenna (Greece), NPO (Netherlands) and Now TV (Hong Kong).

Best Interests stars Michael Sheen (Good Omens, Quiz) and Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe, Together) and is produced by Anonymous Content-backed UK prodco AC Chapter One in association with Fifth Season, the US/UK-based producer/distributor jointly owned by South Korea’s CJ ENM and US talent agency Endeavor.

The storyline follows a married couple, played by Sheen and Horgan, who have two daughters, one of which has a life-threatening condition. The doctors believe it is in her best interests to be allowed to die, but her family disagrees.

The exec producers for AC Chapter One are Sophie Gardiner (Howards End), Toby Bentley (Boy Swallows Universe), Thorne for One Shoe Films, and Lucy Richer for BBC One with Horgan and Sheen. The series is produced by Jenny Frayn (Help) and directed by Michael Keillor (Roadkill).

“It is no surprise to me that this series has resonated with broadcasters from all over the world who agree that audiences of every background will find themselves deeply engrossed by this magnificent production,” said Arvand Khosravi, senior VP of scripted television strategy at Fifth Season.