Nicola Coughlan, renowned for her role in Bridgerton, is set to lead the upcoming series of Channel 4’s critically acclaimed anthology, I Am. This anthology series garnered significant attention when actress Kate Winslet won a BAFTA for her performance in the episode titled I Am Ruth two years ago. Coughlan will star in I Am Helen, alongside fellow actor Joe Cole, known for his role in Peaky Blinders.
Coughlan has been instrumental in the development of her episode, collaborating closely with series creator Dominic Savage. While Channel 4 has not disclosed further details regarding the themes or additional cast members for the fourth season, the series has previously tackled pressing issues facing women in society, featuring talents such as Letitia Wright and Vicky McClure.
Reflecting on her involvement, Coughlan expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “It’s an absolute honour to be part of telling the next I Am story alongside Dominic Savage — a singular talent and a storyteller deeply committed to exploring the breadth of the female experience. To follow in the footsteps of the brilliant women who’ve collaborated with him on this series feels truly surreal, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be embarking on this journey.”
The production of I Am is managed by Me+You Productions, with Krishnendu Majumdar and Savage serving as producers. Additionally, I Am is co-funded by Sky Studios, while international sales are handled by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.
In other news, the intriguing procedural drama Sight Unseen has successfully secured distribution deals with Paramount+ in the UK and Australia’s Nine Network. This gripping series revolves around a top homicide detective who faces a life-altering challenge when she is forced to leave her job following a near-fatal incident involving her partner and her subsequent diagnosis of clinical blindness.
Produced by Fifth Season, Sight Unseen has also struck additional deals for both of its seasons with various international networks, including Play Media (Belgium), AXN Asia (Pan Regional), yes (Israel), Disney Bulgaria, Action Channel (Japan), and Talpa TV (Netherlands). The show stars newcomers Dolly Lewis and Agam Darshi and follows the story of Tess Avery, a detective who loses her sight yet continues to solve crimes with the help of an assistance app and a professional seeing-eye guide.
Jennifer Ebell, the EVP of Television Distribution at Fifth Season, commented on the show’s uniqueness, stating, “Sight Unseen is a fresh take on the crime genre, with a female lead who is sight impaired and authentically cast at its centre. Crime procedurals continue to have strong global appeal, and this series delivers with smart twists on a bankable genre.” The series is created by Karen Troubetzkoy and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, and is produced by Fifth Season-backed Blink49 Studios.
In a significant industry move, Tom Davidson, the former executive from Sony Pictures Television and A+E Networks UK, has joined the British indie studio Particle6 as Chief Commercial Officer. Davidson's new role follows a period of consulting with the company, where he will focus on developing and implementing strategies related to AI production, scalable models, and pricing structures.
Particle6 aims to position itself as “Europe’s leading up-and-coming AI production studio” in video, TV, and film production. Davidson brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as General Manager at SPT in Europe and as Financial Director across Sony Pictures Entertainment’s international networks. He also held the position of Managing Director at A+E Networks UK for nearly seven years and played a pivotal role in establishing HBO Central Europe.
Davidson stated that Particle6 has “become a go-to company for advice and support in the industry, while also developing numerous AI-led projects of its own or in partnership with others.” His collaboration with founder and CEO Eline van der Velden is expected to drive the company’s innovative approach forward.
