Leila Hobday
Channel 5 announced it has greenlit new drama “The Wives” (6x60’), a domestic thriller produced by Gaumont, in association with Banijay Rights for international distribution. Described by its creators as a compulsive drama, full of guilty pleasures, “The Wives” will begin filming in Malta early next year and is set to air later in 2024.
“The Wives” is a six-part mystery drama that follows the unravelling of one family in a summer that changes all their lives. Last year, four sisters-in-law and their families escaped to their Maltese holiday apartments, as they have done every summer for fifteen years. Sylvie was happily married, Natasha was swimming in wealth, and Beth and Annabelle were thick as thieves. But this year, as they come together again, everything is different. Sylvie’s now single and loving life, Natasha’s hiding a desperate financial situation, Beth is barely keeping her life together, and Annabelle is dead.
“The Wives” has been ordered for Channel 5 by Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer at Paramount UK; and Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor of Drama at Channel 5 and Paramount+. Executive producers for Gaumont are Jessica Connell and Alison Jackson. Produced by Margot Gavan Duffy, “The Wives” was written and created by Helen Black, Ciara Conway and Jamie Jackson. The series will be directed by Claire Tailyour and Paulette Randall. Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay, handles international sales for the series.
“We are excited to join forces with the wonderful teams at Gaumont and Banijay Rights for another gripping thriller. ‘The Wives’ is set to bring layers of mystery and intrigue which is guaranteed to keep the Channel 5 audience guessing,” Sebastian Cardwell commented.
“We are excited to partner with Channel 5 and Banijay Rights again on this brilliant piece. Helen Black is a creative powerhouse and she has written a set of brilliantly messy, complex, witty women who we cannot wait to see come to life on screen,” Jessica Connell added.
Leila Hobday, VP Acquisitions at Banijay Rights, added: “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Gaumont and Channel 5 following our recent successful partnership on ‘For Her Sins.’ It is great to see another commercial scripted series being taken out to the international market and we are in no doubt ‘The Wives’ will resonate strongly with viewers worldwide.”