TV & Film
Line of Duty creators announce brand new crime drama
The six part series will be based in Merseyside
Channel 4 has picked up a brand new crime series by the award-winning production company behind Line of Duty.
The Gathering – created by acclaimed writer and director Helen Walsh and produced by World Productions – will centre on a group of Merseyside teens who each have mysterious and criminal pasts.
The thriller will take a predominant focus on Kelly, the main protagonist, and the victim of a previous attack.
Kelly is an accomplished gymnast on track to compete as part of Team GB, but faces having her disciplined lifestyle and future wrecked by the crowd of unruly teens she hangs out with.
BBC
Describing the plot, writer Helen Walsh said: “Micro-managing of children’s lives has become the new normal, The Gathering throws today’s surveillance parenting into sharp focus and asks who is really to blame when our kids f**k up.
“I wanted to write a twisty, state-of-the-nation take on Philip Larkin’s notorious ‘they f**k you up’ observation about parents and kids.”
“I’m thrilled to be working with the excellent team at Channel 4 and World Productions, and look forward to seeing the kinetic worlds of free-running and tumbling gymnastics brought to our screens.”
Caroline Hollick from Channel 4 added: “We are thrilled to be working with the brilliant Helen Walsh and World Productions on this exciting series; The Gathering which forms part of our strategy to commission drama which also appeals to younger viewers.”
BBC
“Through this absorbing story, with Helen’s beautifully drawn, real and relatable characters, the series looks at how family, friendship and aspiration is influenced and shaped by the highs and lows of modern-day parenting.
“Exploring relevant and urgent themes around what it means to be a teenager, as well as a parent today, The Gathering is cleverly wrapped up in a compelling ‘whodunnit’ thriller, where the stakes are upped episode after episode.”
This comes amid ongoing rumours of the seventh season of Line of Duty, with actor Adrian Dunbar hinting the show could be making a comeback as soon as next year.
Further details surrounding The Gathering including casting and a release date is yet to be announced.