NENT Studios UK announces cast for The Holiday
May 27, 2021
As The Holiday, its new drama commission for Channel 5, moves into production in Malta, NENT Studios UK has announced that Viaplay, Nordic Entertainment Group’s rapidly growing streaming service, and VMTV Ireland are now onboard as the first pre-sale partners for the series. Viaplay will show the series as a Viaplay Original.
In addition, it can be revealed that Jill Halfpenny (The Drowning, Liar) and Owen McDonnell (Killing Eve, The Bay) have been confirmed in the lead roles.
Other cast members confirmed in the 4 x 60 thriller, based on T.M. Logan’s bestseller, The Holiday, include Aidan McArdle (The Trail of Christine Keeler, The Mallorca Files), Liv Mjönes (Midsommar, The Lawyer), Siobhan Hewlett (McDonald & Dodds, The Syndicate), Andrew Macklin (Doctor Who, Fair City) and Cat Simmons (Holby City, Moving On).
The Holiday is a new primetime drama series that has been jointly developed by NENT Studios UK, Projector Pictures, Clapperboard Studios and Night Train Media. Set in the blistering heat of a Mediterranean villa and focusing on the relationships of a tight-knit group of families, it traces how secrets, suspicions and lies turn a dream summer holiday into a nightmare.
Richard Halliwell, CEO of NENT Studios UK, says: “The Holiday has been progressing quickly and smoothly and I’m thrilled that the producers have put together such a strong cast, led by the excellent Jill Halfpenny and Owen McDonnell. Partnership has driven this project from the early days, and I am proud that NENT Studios UK has brought together the best possible partners to develop, fund, produce and broadcast this series – and to be able to add Viaplay and VMTV to that list. With Close to Me and now The Holiday, plus a huge slate of dramas in development, we have ably demonstrated our commitment to bringing fresh new scripted series to UK and international broadcasters.”
The Holiday has been adapted for the screen by Michael Crompton (Silent Witness, Safe House, Kidnap and Ransom) while Dave Clarke from NENT Studios UK, Rachel Gesua and Trevor Eve from Projector Pictures, Mike Benson from Clapperboard Studios, Herbert Kloiber and Olivia Pahl from Night Train Media are executive producers for the series. It will premiere on Channel 5 in the UK, VMTV Ireland and on Viaplay as a Viaplay Original in the Nordic region, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania later this year.