Stephen Dunn’s 2022 reimagining of Russell T. Davies’ groundbreaking Manchester gay drama Queer of Folk is headlining a summer of new content and acquisitions on Channel 4’s recently rebranded streaming service.
Davies’ 1999 original show, set in Manchester’s Gay Village, was a watershed in UK Queer TV history, attracting plaudits and calls for censorship in equal measure, and was nominated for both BAFTA and RTS awards. Dunn’s adaptation transplants the action from Manchester to New Orleans, where a group of friends suddenly find their lives transformed following a tragedy that rocks their community
Other new acquisitions to land over the summer include Dr. Death, based on the hugely successful podcast of the same name and inspired by the terrifying true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a charismatic rising star in the Texas medical community.
Also arriving on Channel 4 is Becoming Elizabeth, a drama created and written by Anya Reiss which follows the younger years of Queen Elizabeth I who becomes embroiled in the politics of the English court on her journey to secure the crown.
The Girl from Plainville is a dramatic limited series inspired by the real-life trial of Michelle Carter, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter by encouraging her boyfriend, over text messages, to kill himself, while Cruel Summer, from executive producers Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple, is a thriller told over three summers in the 1990s, as a girl goes missing from a small town in Texas and another mysteriously takes over her life.
Previously announced Channel 4 originals include the return of hit prison drama Screw, created by Rob Williams and starring Nina Sosanya (Good Omens, His Dark Materials, W1A) and Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls) and crime thriller Before We Die, led by Lesley Sharp (Scott and Bailey, Three Girls) which will return to Channel 4 for a second series alongside brand-new comedy drama The Change, created by and starring Bridget Christie (Edinburgh Comedy Award, Rose D’Or and South Bank Sky Arts Award winner) about a woman who becomes invigorated after her doctor tells her she’s going through menopause.
The titles will join Channel 4’s world class streaming service of the best comedy, drama, documentaries, reality, lifestyle and film titles as well as the very best of international content from Walter Presents, all available for free.
The new shows launch as Channel 4 becomes the first UK broadcaster to adopt one brand across its linear and streaming platforms, offering audiences a seamless viewing experience and helping them to find the shows they love from ‘Channel 4,’ wherever and however they are watching.
Channel 4 also has plans in the pipeline to make live streaming available across more platforms, including Amazon and Samsung devices, and more subtitles and audio descriptions will continue to be added to provide greater accessibility for Channel 4 audiences.
Zaid Al-Qassab, chief marketing officer at Channel 4 added: “Channel 4 is passionate about bringing British viewers programmes they love and new ones they’re yet to discover. By bringing all our shows together under our iconic ‘Channel 4’ brand, we’re making it even easier for audiences, particularly younger viewers, to find and stream the very best telly available in the UK.”
Channel 4 recently recorded its biggest April on record, with more than five billion minutes of content streamed. This was driven by hugely popular content including season 10 of Married At First Sight Australia, which was regularly the most streamed PSB programme each week during its nine-week run, along with other hit shows including Made In Chelsea, Gogglebox, Hollyoaks, Taskmaster, and new series launches Rise and Fall, Scared of the Dark and Tempting Fortune.
