[michael21]

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/i...064087.article

Channel 5 is hoping that Australian thriller Secrets & Lies can replicate the success of prison drama Wentworth after acquiring the series from Cineflix Rights.

The Northern & Shell-owned commercial broadcaster will air the 6 x 60-minute series next year after its Australian debut.

C5 found success with Fremantle Media’s Wentworth earlier this year and the show consolidated with nearly 2 million viewers across its 10-episode run.

Secrets & Lies is a whodunnit mystery that tells the story of a family man who discovers the body of a young boy and subsequently finds himself as the prime suspect.

It is produced by Hoodlum, the Australian multiplatform indie set up by Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield that produces dramas including The Strange Calls and Slide for Network Ten.

It is written by author Stephen Irwin and stars The Ring’s Martin Henderson and The Slap’s Anthony Hayes.

The drama is the first series to come out of Cineflix Rights’ move into scripted third-party programming, which it started earlier this year. The deal was struck by Cineflix senior vice-president of programme sales Sandra Piha and senior vice-president of acquisitions Noel Hedges, with Channel 5 head of acquisitions Katie Keenan.

Secrets & Lies is also being remade in the US by ABC. The Disney-owned broadcaster has ordered a 10 x 60-minute straightto- series adaptation from Kaplan Entertainment and ABC Studios, in association with Hoodlum.

“Channel 5 viewers love compelling, character-led drama packed with twists and turns. Secrets & Lies ticks all those boxes and we’re thrilled to add it to our 2014 drama line-up,” said Keenan.

Cineflix Media chief executive, rights, Chris Bonney added: “Secrets & Lies fits perfectly with the demand in the UK for highquality, character-driven miniseries and we’re really pleased that Channel 5 will be making it a cornerstone of its schedule next year.”

He predicted further international sales for the series in the near future.