Beth will be the first digital original drama to broadcast on Channel 4’s YouTube.
We live in an age where linear TV is often not the first place that viewers encounter programmes. Rather than fighting that fact, Channel 4 are embracing it with a new commission.
Beth, a new drama in three 15-minute parts, is being made for Channel 4’s YouTube channel and its streaming service.
Starring Nicholas Pullen (This Town) and Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road), the series comes from writer-director Uzo Oleh.
Here’s what we know about Beth:
Joe and Molly have it all, they’re deeply in love, successful in their careers and living the high life. But one thing is missing – a child. So when Molly falls pregnant after years of false hope, it feels like a miracle.
Months later, when their baby daughter, Imogen, is born, she’s as Caucasian as can be, with no resemblance to Joe, her father. As Joe and Molly’s life is thrown into turmoil, Joe begins to unravel a shocking truth that rocks him, Molly and, potentially, the world to the core. Will Joe be able to keep his discovery a secret in order to protect his family?
Thankfully, for those who still primarily use a television set, Beth will also enjoy a single 45-minute linear airing too.
Uzo Oleh says:
“Bringing Beth to life has been an extraordinary journey, made possible by the support of my producers and commissioners, who championed the vision at every turn. Collaborating with Nicholas and Abbey has been an honour, the depth and nuance they bring to their performances elevates the story beyond what I could have imagined. Every department, from design to cinematography, is filled with world-class artists who poured their hearts into crafting something both intimate and universal, all while pretending not to notice when I cried during takes. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created together. Beth is a testament to what’s possible when passionate, talented individuals unite to reimagine one of the oldest stories ever told.”
Beth comes from Dark Pictures. The series is funded by Channel 4 and GroupM Motion Entertainment’s Diverse Indies Fund. The executive producers are Anna Higgs, Dark Pictures’ Yaw Basoah, Uzo Oleh and Deep Sehgal for GroupM Motion Entertainment.
We’ll keep you posted.