News brief: HBO renews Boardwalk

Premium cable channel HBO has given its acclaimed period crime drama Boardwalk Empire a fifth season.

The Terence Winter-created show is set in during the 1920s Prohibition era in the US and follows the life of Atlantic City crime boss Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson.

Season four has averaged a gross audience of 7.5 million and five Emmy awards. Hollywood heavyweights Martin Scorsese and Mark Wahlberg are among its executive producers.

The news comes after it emerged that HBO entertainment chief Sue Naegle was exiting the company after five years to launch her own production company.