ITV is to broadcast, After the Flood, produced by multi award-winning Manchester based executive producer Nicola Shindler and her team at Quay Street Productions in association with ITV Studios.
The compelling drama is written by BAFTA-nominated writer and actor Mick Ford who is known for his work on Stay Close, Living the Dream and The Stranger.
Nicola Shindler and Richard Fee, executive producers:
“When Mick Ford brought the kernel of the idea of After the Flood to us, we were immediately drawn in. Not just by the catastrophic repercussions of a deadly environmental disaster in a town that could very well be our own, but also the intricacies and deception at the heart of the characters’ stories. We have a brilliant combination of writing, directing and acting talent on board to bring this series to life and we’re looking forward to working with our partners at ITV and BritBox International as we begin filming.”
After the Flood will premiere on ITV1 and ITVX. BritBox International are co-production partners for the drama. The production is a mystery thriller set in a town hit by a devastating flood. When an unidentified man is found dead in a lift in an underground car park police assume he became trapped as the waters rose, and as the investigation unfolds PC Joanna Marshall, played by Sophie Rundle, becomes obsessed with discovering what happened to him.
How did he get in the lift and why does no one know who he is?
The mystery unfolds across the series while we also see the real impact of climate change on the lives of residents in this small town. The floods threaten to expose secrets, and fortunes and reputations are at stake. But how far will people go to protect themselves?
Sophie Rundle (Gentleman Jack, Peaky Blinders) plays police officer Joanna Marshall, Philip Glenister (Belgravia, Life on Mars) takes on the role of property developer Jack Radcliffe and Lorraine Ashbourne (Sherwood, Bridgerton, I Hate Susie) is confirmed to play Jo’s mother, Molly. Nicholas Gleaves (The Crown, The Rising, Bodyguard) plays Sergeant Phil Mackie, Jo’s boss and surrogate father figure, and Matt Stokoe (Cursed, Jamestown) is on board to play Jo’s husband, Pat.
Jonas Armstrong (The Bay, Floodlights) takes on the role of Lee, a seemingly heroic local man, and Jacqueline Boatswain (Carnival Row, Anansi Boys) is cast as local politician Sarah Mackie.
Mick Ford, writer:
“I am always excited to announce a new project but After the Flood in particular tops all of the others due to its ambition and the characters. The cast are fantastic, and I am thrilled with how perfect each cast member is for their role. ITV have been brilliant throughout the writing process allowing us the time to craft the scripts with care which is rare and brilliant. Plus working with Quay Street Productions for Nicola and Richard is so special – because they and their teams are so special, and I feel truly honoured. It is going to be great seeing everyone getting into the story and seeing it come to life – and then there is the flood!”
After the Flood will air as a sixpart series to fill an hour-long ITV1 slot. Filming will take place in and around Manchester, Derbyshire, West Yorkshire and Teesside during February 2023.
Quay Street Productions’ first series, Russell T Davies’ drama Nolly, starring Helena Bonham Carter recently launched on ITVX and has been met by virtually universal praise by viewers and critics, it tells the story of ATV and ITV icon Noele Gordon who was a television pioneer in the fifties and went on to star in her own soap opera Crossroads from 1964 until 1981.
Also currently in production is Significant Other starring Katherine Parkinson and Youssef Kerkour, also for ITVX.
