11th October 2023
UKTV today announces its first true crime commission for free-to-air entertainment channel W and streaming service UKTV Play. Red Flag (8 x 60') is a UKTV Original series produced by First Look TV and will air in 2024.
Over eight compelling episodes, the stories of people who have been catfished, gaslit and deceived are told through first-person survivor testimony. In each episode, Red Flag explores the experiences of those who have been targeted by digital manipulators who use dating sites, instant messaging and fake personas to prey on and exploit their partners.
Viewers are introduced to a new lexicon of manipulative relationship terms - 'breadcrumbing', 'mirroring' and 'love bombing'. These are weapons available to those perpetrators who are all too ready to manipulate and abuse the individuals they come across.
Red Flag has been commissioned for UKTV by commissioning executive Emile Nawagamuwa with Head of Factual and Factual Entertainment Helen Nightingale and ordered for W by Adam Collings, channel director and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Will Hanrahan is executive producer for First Look TV and the series producers are Graham Smiles and Jo Robinson.
Adam Collings said:
This series marks our first true crime UKTV Original commission for W and the unique format sets the series apart from others, making for insightful and intriguing viewing. This is such an important commission for our 2024 slate, and I'm so pleased we get to share the survivors' stories and try to signpost the hallmarks of deception for others.
Emile Nawagamuwa said:
We're incredibly excited to be working with First Look on our first true crime series. The deeply personal accounts from survivors will offer valuable insight to the perilous landscape of modern dating. Those affected will be at the forefront, this is a chance to tell their story and send messages of caution and solidarity to others who may be living the same experience.
Will Hanrahan, executive producer for First Look said:
This is an important series that shines a light on an epidemic of fakery in the UK dating world. We can all too easily find ourselves scammed, blackmailed and even hoodwinked into sex by those who hide behind fake identities or who prey on our instincts to help others in need. It will make for compelling viewing - and we hope it prevents such crimes happening to you or someone you know. Given the subject, we think UKTV's W channel is the perfect partner, and we are delighted to be working with them again.
Red Flag will air on UKTV's free-to-air channel W and streaming service UKTV Play in 2024.
Notes to Editors:
For more information, please contact:
Ben Duncan - Consumer Comms Manager, UKTV
About W
Freeview 25, Sky 132/827 (HD), Virgin 125/211 (HD), Freesat 156 W is a TV channel passionate about people and finding the joy in everyday moments. Its quality mix of UKTV Originals featuring heart-warming shows led by some of the UK's most-loved talent, and uplifting series shining a light on heroic emergency services, are complemented by high quality acquisitions.
W shows tap into the raw and genuine heart swell moments, from emotions running high at the sound of a baby's first cry in the award-winning Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, to heart-stopping drama for the incredible frontline workers in Inside the Ambulance, Nurses on the Ward and 999 Rescue Squad. Elsewhere, award-winning documentary maker Stacey Dooley offers an unfiltered insight into unseen areas of modern relationships and family life in the hit series Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, while Rochelle Hulmes helps deserving families transform their homes in Rochelle Humes: Interior Designer in the Making. W is also the exclusive home to the joyfully competitive MasterChef franchise, including MasterChef Australia, MasterChef USA and MasterChef Juniors.
About UKTV Play
UKTV Play is an on demand TV service providing instant access to shows from UKTV's free-to-air channels - Dave, W, Yesterday and Drama.
With the easy-to-use UKTV Play app you can browse and stream hundreds of shows for free via your computer, tablet or smart phone. You can also watch on the telly thanks to Freeview Play, Amazon Fire TV, YouView, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Freesat, NOW and Roku. If you're a Sky or Virgin Media customer, shows from other great UKTV channels - Gold, Alibi, and Eden - are also on the menu. uktvplay.co.uk
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.
UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress
About First Look TV
FirstLookTV is an internationally established UK production company specialising in investigative factual content. It has produced 100s of hours of True crime programming with an emphasis on social purpose and victim support. Its powerful programming has produced high ratings, top-10 Streamer and Catch-up positions and it has won multiple awards. Its current content is seen in America, Canada, throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia including China and India, on Netflix, Amazon Prime, A&E networks, BBC, UKTV, Discovery and Channel 5...to name a few.