Channel 5 has announced the commissioning of two new series of the factual documentary, Cause of Death, which follows real-life coronial investigations, medical processes, and police investigations as they unfold the mysteries in a previously closed and taboo world.
Executive Producer Anna Hall:
“This has been a ground-breaking series to make – and we are thrilled that the sensitive work of the police; all the hospital staff and of course the Coroner and his officers have been recognised in telling these incredible stories of what happens when someone dies in unexpected, sudden and suspicious circumstances. This order will be transformational for Candour as we continue to grow our production talent in the north of England”.
The documentary series which takes viewers inside the world of the Senior Coroner for Lancashire & Darwen has been commissioned for two eight-part series due in 2023 and 2024.
The first series of Cause of Death was acclaimed by audience and critics alike and a ratings hit for Channel 5, pulling in a consolidated average audience of 1.6 million viewers per episode during its four-week run. With 1.7 million viewers tuning into the finale, the series has reached 5 million viewers overall.
Cause of Death sees the detective story from a whole new angle as it’s the Coroner’s job to ensure that no-one who suffered from a sudden, unexplained, or unnatural death goes to the grave with vital questions unanswered. The 360-degree series tracks the deceased from the moment they are found or brought into the mortuary, to the inquest months later.
Each self-contained episode looks at a number of different stories and the families at their centre. With exclusive access to the Coroner and his team, the series follows as they uncover the truth behind a series of cases as they come in, provide comfort to the next of kin and guide them through a difficult and unfamiliar process, coordinate medical enquiries, post mortems and CT scans and liaise with the police leading up to the inquest.
With unprecedented access from start to finish and using audio reconstructed from the original transcripts from behind the closed doors of inquests, Cause of Death provides a unique insight into the coronial process.
Channel 5 and Paramount + Commissioning Editor, Daniel Pearl:
“Cause of Death is a truly extraordinary new factual hit. Its first series garnered both high praise and high ratings in equal measure owing to the sensitive way that Candour approached this difficult subject and the great care taken to work with all the contributors.”
