We’ve announced a raft of global pre-sale deals for The Responder, which will see the striking and atmospheric police drama available to international audiences for the first time, including a U.S. exclusive debut on BritBox, the streaming service offering the biggest collection of unmissable streaming British entertainment in North America, and CANAL+ in France.
The 6×60’ acclaimed crime drama for BBC One penned by Tony Schumacher and produced by Fremantle backed Dancing Ledge Productions stars a cast led by Martin Freeman as a police officer working a gruelling series of night shifts on the streets of Liverpool, and his new rookie partner played by Adelayo Adedayo.
The much anticipated, thrilling series premiered on BBC One on Monday 24th January to a host of five-star reviews. Described as ‘an early contender for best police drama of the year’ by London’s Evening Standard and with a consolidated 7-day audience of 7.6 million, The Responder promises to be a stand-out drama for 2022. Fremantle continues to handle international distribution of the series.
Following a host of deals struck by Fremantle, broadcasters that have boarded the series include Disney+ (Italy), CANAL+ (France and Poland), Magenta TV (Germany), Movistar (Spain), RTL (Hungary), Pickbox (Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro), Cosmote TV (Greece), Viasat (Russia & CIS) and Rozhlas A Telvize, (Slovakia). Outside of Europe, BritBox have acquired the series for North America, TELUS Presents for Canada, pubcaster SBS for Australia with CANAL+ and MNET bringing The Responder to audiences in Africa. Dazzler has also acquired DVD and EST* rights for the UK & Ireland.
The Responder follows Chris (Martin Freeman, The Hobbit; Sherlock; Breeders; Fargo), a crisis-stricken, morally compromised, unconventional urgent response officer tackling a series of night shifts on the beat. Whilst trying to keep his head above water both personally and professionally, Chris is forced to take on a new rookie partner Rachel (Adelayo Adedayo, Unsaid Stories; Timewasters; The Capture). Both soon discover that survival in this high pressure, relentless, night-time world will depend on them either helping or destroying eachother. At its heart The Responder is a drama focussing on universal issues including morality, love, loss and adversity, and promises audiences Martin Freeman as they’ve never seen him before, in a role no like no other.
The series showcases a cast of world-class acting talent, including Ian Hart (Tin Star; The Last Kingdom; The Terror), MyAnna Buring (The Salisbury Poisonings; The Witcher; Ripper Street), Kerrie Hayes (Tin Star; The English Game; The Mill) Warren Brown (Luther; Liar; Strike Back), David Bradley (Afterlife; Brittania; Broadchurch) and Rita Tushingham (Ridley Road; The Pale Horse; In the Flesh) alongside newcomers Josh Finan and Emily Fairn.
The Responder (6×60’) is written by Tony Schumacher and produced by Dancing Ledge Productions, part of Fremantle, originally for BBC One. It is directed by Tim Mielants (Peaky Blinders; The Terror; Legion) and produced by Rebecca Ferguson (The Trial of Christine Keeler; Cold Feet; Next of Kin). Multi BAFTA – award winning and Emmy nominated Laurence Bowen and Emmy award winning Chris Carey executive produced for Dancing Ledge Productions alongside Martin Freeman, and Mona Qureshi for BBC One.
Rebecca Dundon, VP Scripted, Fremantle said: “To partner with such an exciting mix of esteemed international buyers is a testament to the strength of this series; a police drama like no other that promises to surprise, excite and challenge audiences with its truly captivating and heartfelt narrative and world class acting led by Martin Freeman. We have no doubt that this is just the beginning for this truly remarkable series, a show that has become a firm favourite amongst critics and audiences both here in the UK and around the world.”
Laurence Bowen Executive Producer for The Responder and CEO of Dancing Ledge Productions said: “We’re thrilled The Responder will be resonating with audiences around the world. The authenticity, boldness and universality to Tony’s writing make him one of the great new screenwriting stars and having Martin capture that authorship and then transport it onto the screen is what makes the series very special. This is a police series for our times.”
