ITV Studios signs drama deal with France Télévisions

ITV Studios has signed a new deal with France Télévisions, delivering a package of drama content to France Télévisions’ channels, including the thriller series The gathering.

From the producers of Mandatory line And vigil, The gathering (World Productions for Channel 4) won Best Feature Series, Best Actress and Best Actor at the Monte Carlo TV Festival in June. It wraps globally relevant themes about what it means to be a teenager – or a parent of teenagers – into a contemporary, twisted crime thriller. Also from World Productions Fifteen-love, starring Aidan Turner and Ella Lily Hyland was taken over. The six-part series, created and written by Hania Elkington and directed by Eva Riley and Toby MacDonald, follows Justine’s meteoric rise and tragic fall in the elite world of Grand Slam tennis.

France Télévisions’ selection also includes the twisty, character-based thriller Absolutely hot (Quay Street Productions for Prime Video UK), created and written by Charlotte Coben and executive produced by Nicola Shindler. The series explores themes of class, love and identity through the friendship between Elliot (Bilal Hasna) and Jess (Vivian Oparah), who are bonded by the trauma of the loss of Peter – Elliot’s first love and Jess’ twin brother.

The deal also includes second window rights to the crime thriller The snake (Mammoth Screen for BBC One and Netflix), which tells the remarkable story of how conman and murderer Charles Sobhraj was brought to justice. The eight-part series, starring Tahar Rahim, Jenna Coleman, Billy Howle and Ellie Bamber, became BBC iPlayer’s most popular show when it launched in 2021 with 31 million streams.

Manuel Alduy, Head of Cinema and International & Young Adult Fiction, France Télévisions, commented: “Not only are we delighted with this deal with our trusted partner ITV Studios, but we are also delighted to be able to offer this range of innovative new series to French audiences .” which cover modern topics with entertaining stories.”

Gisela Asimus Minnbergh, EVP Sales EMEA, Global Partnerships at ITV Studios, added: “We are delighted to continue our long-standing collaboration with France Télévisions and offer their viewers an exciting program of new dramas.” The gathering impressed the jury at the Monte Carlo TV Festival this year and will certainly do so again with French audiences. Rounded out with even more tentpole titles like Fifteen – Love, the snake And Absolutely hot This is a phenomenal, diverse drama package.”

The deal was brokered on behalf of ITV Studios by Cristina Brun, Vice President, Sales, EMEA.