Crime paying off for broadcaster at key sales event

CRIME is paying for the BBC – with booming international sales of programmes such as Sherlock, Luther and Happy Valley at an event in Liverpool.

The corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide has sold more than 900 hours of rime drama to overseas broadcasters at its annual Showcase event at the ACC Liverpool, which is being attended by more than 700 international buyers from around the world.

This evening, some of the stars of the shows will be attending a reception to promote their work. Due to attend are :Matthew Macfadyen (Ripper Street); Philip Glenister (Prey); Claire Goose (The Coroner); Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten); Mark Williams (Father Brown); Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks) and Kris Marshall (Death in Paradise).

Paul Dempsey, president global markets, BBC Worldwide, said: “British crime drama is hugely popular around the world and accounts for over 40% of our drama revenue. Showcase is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the range and quality of our crime slate in the company of some of the world’s most watched heroes and villains.”

 Liam Keelan, director of Scripted Content, BBC Worldwide, added: “It’s clear that the demand for these nail-biting stories has never been stronger across the globe; a real testament to BBC Worldwide’s on-and-off-screen talent.”

As well as the evening event dedicated to crime drama, BBC Worldwide will be hosting a special creative writing partnerships masterclass for delegates with writers of the forthcoming five-part thriller SS-GB, Bafta award-winners Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (SPECTRE, Skyfall, Casino Royale); Sherlock’s Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffatt, and One Of Us writers Jack and Harry Williams all taking part.

Leading writers, Peter Moffat (Undercover) and Ashley Pharoah (The Living and the Dead), will also be in attendance presenting their new dramas at the Showcase Drama Premiere.

In 2014/15, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £138.6m on sales of £1bn.