8am, Friday 15 March

STV Studios commissioned by Netflix to produce new drama series, The Witness

STV Studios today announces that it has been commissioned for the first time by global streamer, Netflix, to produce a new three-part drama series, The Witness.

In 1992, Rachel Nickell was murdered on Wimbledon Common and her son, Alex, just three weeks from his third birthday, was the only witness. The drama is based on the memoir and experiences of Alex and his father, André Hanscombe.

The series is written by Rob Williams (creator and writer of STV Studios series, The Victim and Screw) and filming will commence in Summer 2024.  Alex and André Hanscombe are consultants on the series.

The Witness will comprise 3 x 60" episodes.

David Mortimer, MD of STV Studios, said: "This is STV Studios first commission for Netflix and we very much look forward to collaborating with them on this project, which our experienced and committed drama team will produce with the utmost sensitivity and care that it deserves."

STV Studios recently confirmed new drama commissions for its majority owned label, Two Cities Television: Amadeus for Sky and a third and fourth series of police drama, Blue Lights for BBC One. A further high-end drama, Criminal Record, produced by TOD Productions and STV Studios, launched on AppleTV+ in January to widespread critical acclaim.

www.stvplc.tv | www.stvstudios.com

Contact: Kirstin Stevenson (STV Studios), 07803970106 or kirstin.stevenson@stv.tv.

About STV Studios

STV Studios is one of the UK's leading producers of scripted and unscripted content and Scotland's biggest production group. Led by David Mortimer, the group has an impressive track record of success across drama, entertainment and factual, working with the world's biggest broadcasters and streamers including Apple TV+, BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV, Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery. 

STV Studios and their labels have produced hundreds of hours of critically acclaimed conversation-starting television.  In the scripted area, these include BAFTA and International Emmy award-winning TV film Elizabeth Is Missing (BBC One); Apple TV+ thriller Criminal Record (a co-production with Tod Productions); award-winning drama, The Victim (BBC One); and Two Cities TV's gripping police drama Blue Lights (BBC One). Unscripted shows include nail-biting quiz format Bridge of Lies for the BBC in the UK and sold internationally; iconic Saturday night gameshow Catchphrase (ITV); and BBC daytime hit, Antiques Road Trip. 

STV Studios was named Production Group of the Year at the prestigious Edinburgh TV Awards in 2023. For more details on STV Studios full portfolio, visit www.stvstudios.com.

STV Studios is part of STV Group plc, Scotland's home of news, entertainment and drama - including broadcast channel STV and streaming service, STV Player. www.stvplc.tv