UKTV’s Alibi & S4C in Wales strike first scripted deal on ‘Mudtown’

Erin Richards & Tom Cullen (Source: UKTV)

UKTV-owned Alibi has linked up with Welsh language free-to-air channel S4C for the first time on a new crime drama.

Mudtown (6 x 60 minutes) is being produced by Severn Screen and centres around life at Newport’s Magistrates Court, tracking how a web of criminal activity threatens the lives of locals.

The show is being shot in both English and Welsh, with new writing duo Hannah Daniel (Keeping Faith) and Georgia Lee attached.

Erin Richards (Gotham) and Tom Cullen (The Gold) star, alongside Lauren Morais (The Red King) and Lloyd Meredith (Gran Turismo), with All3Media International handling global sales outside the UK.

Mudtown (Ar y Ffin in Welsh) has been commissioned by Helen Perry, head of drama for UKTV, and ordered for Alibi by Emma Ayech, channel director, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning.

S4C’s head of scripted, Gwenllian Gravelle, ordered the show for the Welsh broadcaster, which will air the series in late 2024 on S4C Clic. It will also become available on BBC iPlayer, with a premiere date on Alibi set for 2025.

Executive producer for Severn Screen is Ed Talfan and the series will be produced by Hannah Thomas (Steeltown Murders) and directed by Rhys Carter (Yr Amgueddfa) and Chris Forster (Hidden).

Perry said: “I’m thrilled that we get to bring Hannah and Georgia’s razor-sharp scripts to life in a way that will make our audiences laugh, cry, gasp and stay on the edge of their seats. The characters are colourful, the crimes are complex, the twists are non-stop, and the whole show is shot through with wit.”

Gravelle added that the show would be a “fresh take on the procedural crime show genre.”