Australia’s ABC picks up UK drama series

Australian public broadcaster the ABC has bought two of BBC Worldwide’s top drama series, Luther and Strikes Back.

The deal was brokered by BBC Worldwide Australia and gives the ABC the BBC/BBC America-produced 6x50mins detective series Luther, starring Idris Elba (The Wire), as the eponymous brilliant but troubled detective. It aired on BBC One earlier this year.

It also gets Strike Back, the 3x90mins action series based on the book of the same name by former SAS soldier Chris Ryan. It is produced by Left Bank Pictures, the indie producer set up by Andy Harries, stars Richard Armitage (Spooks) and aired on pay TV channel Sky1 earlier this year.

“Our audience will really engage with these stories and having some actors very familiar to our viewers, such as Richard Armitage and Andrew Lincoln, is an extra bonus,” said Marena Manzoufas, ABC TV’s head of programming.