9 July 2015
UKTV has signed a deal with Disney UK and Ireland to secure exclusive UK pay TV rights to ABC Studios' thriller Secrets and Lies for its premium entertainment channel, Watch.
Secrets and Lies is ABC Studios' gripping, explosive new drama co-starring Juliette Lewis (From Dusk Till Dawn, Natural Born Killers) and Ryan Philippe (Damages, Cruel Intentions). The 10 x 60' series averaged 8.1 million viewers in the US (including Live+ 7 day catch up) and has recently been renewed for season two by ABC. The finale was the highest rated programme of the night across all networks alongside Once Upon a Time on ABC.
When Ben Crawford (Ryan Phillippe) finds his neighbour's son dead on his morning run, Ben quickly turns from Good Samaritan to murder suspect. Assigned to the case, tough, thorough investigator Detective Cornell (Juliette Lewis) searches Ben's home, pokes holes in his story, and demands a DNA sample. As the formidable detective searches for the facts, the media hone in on Ben and his family, and he struggles to escape from the pressure. From that point on, Ben's life is turned upside down as he sets out on a complicated journey to prove his innocence.
Is Ben innocent or guilty? He is fighting to keep his marriage, kids, job and reputation, and he is barely clinging to his sanity. As the investigation progresses, the close knit community starts to come apart at the seams, unraveling until the jaw-dropping conclusion.
Watch General Manager, Steve North, said,
Secrets and Lies is an ambitious series combining crime, deception and the unpicking of numerous characters' lives. It is a gripping show that will enthrall our audience and keep them on the edge of their seats.
UKTV's Head of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Alexandra Finlay, added,
Secrets and Lies has dark, multi-layered and challenging storytelling. It perfectly complements the high quality acquisitions we have at UKTV.
Secrets and Lies stars Ryan Phillippe (Damages, The Lincoln Lawyer, Flags of Our Fathers) as Ben Crawford, Juliette Lewis (August: Osage County) as Detective Cornell, KaDee Strickland (Private Practice) as Christy Crawford, Natalie Martinez (Under the Dome, CSI: NY) as Jess Murphy, Dan Fogler (The Goldbergs, Hannibal) as Dave Lindsey, Indiana Evans (Blue Lagoon: The Awakening) as Natalie Crawford and Belle Shouse as Abby Crawford.
Barbie Kligman (Private Practice) developed the mystery thriller, which is based on the original Australian series Secrets & Lies, created by Stephen Irwin. Secrets and Lies is a production of ABC Studios.
Watch's acquisitions continue to perform strongly with Grimm season four averaging 649,000 individuals across its 15 consolidated episodes so far and Crisis, starring Gillian Anderson, averaged 501,000 individuals across its 13 episode series. The Strain season one averaged 417,000 individuals across its 13 episode series, with season two set to return in August.
For more information, please contact:
Justine Bower, Group Publicity Manager or email: PressOffice@uktv.co.uk.
About Watch
Sky 109 (HD)/155 and Virgin 125 (HD)/124
Sky 109/245, Virgin 124/191, BT & TalkTalk 407 Watch is an entertainment channel that promises to surprise with out-of-the-ordinary programming. Premiering hit fantasy and science-fiction dramas such as The Strain, Grimm, Resurrection and Beauty and the Beast, it also showcases a selection of distinctive series like Doctor Who, David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities and Masterchef Australia. Watch is the exclusive home of Dynamo: Magician Impossible, an award winning original commission from UKTV.
watch.uktv.co.uk / @Watch_Channel
About UKTV
UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches over 42 million viewers every month. UKTV's eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, Watch, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food - include the most popular non-PSB channel in the UK and account for 9% of the British commercial TV market. The company's most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £278m, and EBITDA of £67.4m. It invested a record £125m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity.
UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.
Now celebrating its 22nd year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British television broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.