News round-up: More4 returns ‘Great British Dig’; ‘Hunting Ghislaine’ adds writer & producer; MHz buys Welsh dramas

The Great British Dig

More4 returns ‘Great British Dig’

More4 in the UK has ordered a second season of The Great British Dig, an “alternative archaeology” format that gives everyday people the chance to uncover some of the amazing history hidden in their own back yards.

Produced by Strawberry Blond TV, the 10-part second season will see Outnumbered star Hugh Dennis return alongside the expert archaeological team of Dr Chloe Duckworth, Natasha Billson and Richard Taylor.

The new series features a lost World War Two POW camp, re-writing Roman history in Scotland and the discovery of the oldest artefact to date.

In addition, the format has been optioned by Pilgrim Media Group. Hat Trick International hold global distribution rights.

Hunting Ghislaine

‘Hunting Ghislaine’ adds writer & producer

Journalist-turned-screenwriter JW Lee and producer Sophie Johnston have boarded Eleventh Hour Films’ upcoming limited drama series Hunting Ghislaine.

Lee will write the series, while Johnston will serve as story producer on the previously announced project, which is based on the LBC podcast of the same name.

The podcast tells the story of Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of disgraced billionaire media tycoon Robert Maxwell and former partner of notorious convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Maxwell is currently on trial in New York facing charges of enticing girls for sex with Epstein and perjury.

Lee is under commission to SVODs and PBS platforms both in the US and the UK and as a journalist has worked in TV and print for broadcasters and outlets including WSJ, PBS, CBS, Time, CNN and New York Magazine.

Johnston has worked on British dramas including The Crown, The Trial Of Christine Keeler, and The Little Drummer Girl.

Paula Cuddy, creative director at Eleventh Hour Films, said “I’m thrilled to be working with Jiwon and Sophie on a scripted response to the Ghislaine story – to invent a different perspective on the story and its players”

Lifelines

MHz buys Welsh dramas

MHz Networks has acquired the Welsh shows Lifelines and FFLAM for the US and Canada, following a deal with UK distributor Videoplugger.

FFLAM is a 6 x 30-minute drama series commissioned by S4C and adapted from an original story by Gwenno Hughes and starring Gwyneth Keyworth.

The future looks bright for Noni and Deniz as they build a new life together in Cardiff until Noni sees a ghost from her past – her husband Tim, who was killed in a terrible fire in Edinburgh – or a man who looks very much like him. Will Noni be able to resist temptation – or will she consider rekindling the relationship?

Lifelines (aka Cyswllt), meanwhile is a 3 × 25-minute S4C original that provides a snapshot of life during a pandemic, illustrating the effect of lockdown on individuals and families. Written and directed by Pip Broughton, the cast includes Mark Lewis Jones and Hannah Daniel.