Paramount+ UK & Ireland orders The Serial Killer’s Wife
June 29, 2023
Paramount+ UK & Ireland has announced the commission of a new original UK drama series The Serial Killer’s Wife (4 x 60”), with Annabel Scholey, Jack Farthing and Luke Treadaway cast in the lead roles.
The Serial Killer’s Wife will be produced by the makers of The Ex-Wife, Clapperboard Studios and BlackBox Multimedia, with the show currently filming on location around Folkestone, Kent.
Set in a family home nestled in an idyllic English town, Beth Fairchild (Annabel Scholey: The Split, The Sixth Commandment) has prepared a surprise birthday party for her husband Tom (Jack Farthing: Rain Dogs, Spencer, The Lost Daughter). With most of the village present as Tom is the beloved local doctor, Beth’s world is turned upside down when the party is interrupted by the police and Tom is arrested for the murder of his former assistant.
Beth believes her husband has been wrongly accused but she soon makes some shocking discoveries that cast doubt on his innocence. As she confides her worries to Adam (Luke Treadaway: A Street Cat Named Bob, Ordeal By Innocence), Tom’s best friend from childhood, further developments see Beth begin to realise not everything in her supposedly idyllic life is as it seems.
On the small screen, Annabel Scholey played Nina Dafoe in The Split, she had the major recurring role of Claire Brown in series 13 of Doctor Who and featured in The Salisbury Poisonings. Annabel brings a litany of performing accolades to the show, playing Lady Anne in Sam Mendes’s Richard III and starring alongside Dame Judi Dench in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Jack Farthing is an established television face, having appeared in the remake of Poldark and Poirot. He has also recently appeared in multi-award-winning films including Spencer and The Lost Daughter. Other notable performances include roles in The ABC Murders and Rain Dogs.
Luke Treadaway is well-known for having played main character Vincent Rattrey in Fortitude, and his most recent TV features have included Lockwood & Co, The Singapore Grip and Traitors. He won an Olivier Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance as Christopher in the National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Scholey added: “I am thrilled to be part of this talented cast and creative team and can’t wait to go on Beth’s complex and eye-opening journey of self-revelation.”
Farthing said: “I’m delighted to get started on this compelling story with such a talented team of creators and cast. It’s always a fascinating challenge for an actor to play a character that keeps an audience guessing and Tom is certainly one of those.”
Treadaway added: “Really looking forward to working with all the talented and lovely people on this production.”
Produced by Clapperboard Studios and BlackBox Multimedia, The Serial Killer’s Wife sees Andy Morgan and Mike Benson (Clapperboard) serve as executive producers on the series, alongside Chiara Cardoso and Giuliano Papadia (BlackBox Multimedia). Laura Way is the director with Jonathan Phillips serving as the producer.
The Serial Killer’s Wife was commissioned by Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel 5 & Paramount+ UK & Ireland and Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer, UK, Paramount UK & Ireland.
On the announcement, Clapperboard’s Mike Benson added: “Serial Killers are obviously a well mined area in both drama and documentary – but we were drawn to the unique POV of Alice’s novel which felt fresh and enticing. We have a hugely talented cast and crew and are delighted to be working again with our partners in crime(thrillers) Blackbox and of course appreciative to P+ for backing us.”
Giuliano Papadia, Producer and CEO of BlackBox Multimedia, said: “We are so happy to be working once again with our partners at Clapperboard on this thrilling new show. The talent both in front and behind the camera is incredible, together with Paramount+ UK & Ireland we’re confident it will be a knock-out show.”