ROBERT GLENISTER, SEAN PERTWEE AND SUZANNE PACKER LEAD THE CAST FOR NEW CHANNEL 5 THRILLER BLACK CAB FROM STORY FILMS

Channel 5 today has announced the commission of a new four-part thriller, Black Cab (4 x 60”) produced by Story Films in association with All3Media International, set to air in 2023.

A contemporary thriller based in Liverpool about a lonely taxi driver’s growing obsession with a late-night Radio DJ, Black Cab was ordered for Channel 5 by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount+. Executive Producers are Sam Tipper-Hale and David Nath for Story Films and David Collins for Samson Films. 

Leading the cast is Robert Glenister (Sherwood, Spooks) who plays Tony, a 50-something cab driver from Liverpool, who used to be a respected teacher but lost his job, his confidence, and his marriage. His only lifelines are cafe-worker Rosa, played by Suzanne Packer (Casualty, In My Skin), whom he forms a growing attachment to, and a late-night radio talk-show host called Lawrence, portrayed by Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers, Elementary, Gotham) who he spends his nights listening to as he ferries passengers across the city.

One day Tony plucks up the courage to ring Lawrence on-air and soon becomes a "friend of the show” - for the first time in years, he feels listened to.  But, as time passes, he starts to interpret Lawrence’s “world view” in dangerous ways.  The relationship grows into an unhealthy obsession for Tony, until he comes to the realisation that the real Lawrence isn’t the man he purports to be.

Screenwriter Nick Saltrese (A Prayer Before Dawn) has penned the series, and Diarmuid Goggins (Kin, Bulletproof, Witness No. 3) will serve as director. Alex Jones (Penance, Witness No. 3) also joins the crew as producer. All3Media International will handle global distribution. 

On joining the cast of Black Cab, Robert Glenister said: “ I’m delighted to be working with Story films on Nick’s terrific Black Cab, and to be reunited with the wonderful Suzanne Packer and Sean Pertwee.”   

On the Commissioning and Casting news Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 and Paramount+, comments:  “I’m incredibly happy to be working with the talented team at Story Films, following the critically acclaimed Witness Number 3 earlier this year. With an exceptional cast, Black Cab is a compelling addition to Channel 5’s original drama slate.”   

Sam Tipper-Hale, Executive Producer, Story Films added: “Nick Saltrese has created a timely and unique British thriller. Black Cab explores the power of the modern-day, talk-show host when his words start to consume a man on the edge.”  

The series is currently filming on location in Ireland and is expected to air on Channel 5 in the UK in 2023.                                                                        

 ENDS

For further enquiries please contact: 

Hannah Allan | Hannah.Allan@vimn.com

Kate Killgour  | Kate.Killgour@vimn.com

Kate Keilty | Kate.Keilty@vimn.com     

 About Channel 5:   

Channel 5 is a public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been owned by Paramount since September 2014. Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select and My5 TV reach 3 in 4 of the UK viewing public each month with a diverse schedule including issue-led documentaries, popular factual, accessible history, stunning natural history, inclusive entertainment and reality, top level sport, high quality scripted programming and critically acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming.   Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 has led on societal issues from inequality to inner city gang life, homelessness to mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation.  My5 is an on-demand service allowing viewers to watch content online for free from Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select and 5Spike, as well as selected third-party channels.    In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald and was named ‘Channel of the Year’ at the Edinburgh TV Festival. In 2019, Chanel 5 won best documentary award for The Abused at the RTS Awards, Edinburgh TV Awards and the Association of International Broadcasters Awards. In 2020, Channel 5 was crowned Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards and Channel of the Year at the RTS awards.   

About Paramount Global:    

Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic studios, networks and streaming services, its portfolio of consumer brands includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others. The company delivers the largest share of the U.S. television audience and boasts one of the industry’s most important and extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, Paramount Global provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution and advertising solutions.   

About Story Films:   

Set up in 2016, All3Media-backed Story Films produces premium drama and documentary programming. Run by BAFTA-winning film makers David Nath and Peter Beard, recent scripted productions include ITV’s’s The Thief His Wife and the Canoe, Channel 4’s Deceit, the award-winning The Interrogation of Tony Martin and C5 thriller Witness Number 3. Documentary programmes include BBC’s Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League, C4’s Taken: Hunting the Sex Traffickers, Max Clifford: The Fall of a Tabloid King and BAFTA-nominated Losing It: Our Mental Health Emergency.   

About All3Media International:  

About All3Media International All3Media International distributes popular, award-winning TV programmes to over 1,000 broadcasters and media platforms around the world. The company has been celebrated for producing, marketing and distributing quality, ground-breaking and pioneering shows to a global audience – consistently topping the Broadcast and Televisual annual Indies Surveys and we have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of our growth – twice. Our catalogue contains over 20,000 hours of content across all genres.  As well as Britain’s top-selling drama series MIDSOMER MURDERS, our quality scripted content includes FLEABAG, ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, IT'S A SIN, TRIGGER POINT, THE TOURIST, MYSTERY ROAD and VAN DER VALK, as well as the upcoming drama THE ENGLISH, starring Emily Blunt. Our Non-Scripted content slate includes premium factual documentaries such as WHO IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL? and FEVER PITCH: RISE OF THE PREMIERE LEAGUE as well as various factual entertainment titles including ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU, GREAT BRITISH MENU and FOUR IN A BED, and also representing some of television's most beloved brands from Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Gordon Ramsay, Mary Beard and Grayson Perry. Our celebrated formats include THE TRAITORS, GOGGLEBOX, UNDERCOVER BOSS, THIS IS YOUR LIFE, LINGO, THE DOG HOUSE and RACE ACROSS THE WORLD and we also represent an extensive list of successful scripted formats including LIAR, BLOOD, CHEAT and QUEER AS FOLK