Sarah Lancashire

Channel 4 promises more distinctive content for 2019

Ed Stafford will explore homelessness for Channel 4 (Credit: C4)

The new shows are part of a deliberate drive by the channel to offer distinctive content, in a bid to beat competition from streaming services and other broadcasters.

At the launch of the new slate, Ian Katz, the channel’s Director of Programming, said he wants to focus on “entertaining, mischievous and innovative shows about the big issues and arguments in Britain today.”

He added: “Many of the shows [launching in 2019] are not ones that the global digital giants, even as they plough billions into new content, would be remotely interested in making.”

RTS winners unite for new Channel 4 crime drama Kiri

Sarah Lancashire RTS Programme Awards 2013-14

Happy Valley actor Sarah Lancashire stars as social worker Miriam who is thrust into the spotlight when a child in her care, Kiri, is abducted and killed after an unsupervised visit to her biological family. The no-nonsense social worker loves and believes in her job, but has a maverick and instinctive approach to dealing with the children she looks after, which draws attention as the media buzz intensifies.

Miriam (Lancashire) and the families at the centre of the storm are forced to ask tough questions, not just of themselves, but of those they love the most.  

Sherlock's Andrew Scott takes on monsters for CBeebies

The animated pre-school series, School of Roars, is about five young monsters as they experience school for the first time.

The five monster-lings tackle each school day with the help of their lovable teacher Miss Grizzlesniff, voiced by Kathy Burke, who guides them through monstery classes in maths, music, cookery and life.

Sarah Lancashire appears as the Headmonstress, Mrs Twirlyhorn, and Sherlock villain Andrew Scott, plays the narrator – as well as a number of other characters including Mr Marrow the cookery teacher.

BBC commissions a second series of Happy Valley

Crime drama Happy Valley will be returning to screens later this year after being commissioned for a second series.

The Yorkshire-based six-part drama starring Sarah Lancashire focuses on a police sergeant searching for a kidnapped girl.

Happy Valley attracted an average of 7.2 million viewers during its first season, with its final episode in series one attracting 7.8 million.

Lancashire won the Female Actor award at the RTS Programme Awards in March this year.  

ITV’s big drama: Television speaks to drama boss Steve November

Steve November

On 18 September 2016, Steve November has a problem. At 9:00pm that night, the slot arrives in ITV’s schedule that would normally be filled by the season premiere of Downton Abbey.

As Director of Drama for the ITV network, November has to find a replacement – Downton is ending, with the last ever episode to air this coming Christmas Day. And, given Downton’s blockbuster ratings performance, it’s going to be a fiendishly difficult act to follow.