CHANNEL 5 DECLARES SUSPECTS WILL RETURN THIS AUTUMN AND IN 2015
14-Mar-2014
“Smart, effective TV” - Daily Telegraph
“Raw and unconventional… With its improvised dialogue and edgy camerawork, it has the same reek of reality that comes from a fly-on-the-wall documentary.” - The Times
“[Channel 5’s] new high-tension police show Suspects makes such powerful, original viewing.” - Daily Mail
CHANNEL 5 DECLARES SUSPECTS WILL RETURN THIS AUTUMN AND IN 2015
Channels 5 has announced that its original new crime drama Suspects will be back in the autumn with new episodes for a second series and has been re-commissioned for 2015.
Commissioned at Channel 5 by Ben Frow, Director of Programmes, the edgy, unscripted drama is produced by Newman Street (part of FremantleMedia UK), and co-created and executive-produced by Paul Marquess (The Bill, Footballers’ Wives, Hollyoaks).
Suspects takes a different approach to how crime drama is created and executed: actors Fay Ripley, Damien Molony and Clare-Hope Ashitey improvise the dialogue from a tightly-plotted storyline, and the series adopts filming techniques and a directorial approach usually associated with factual programming and fly-on-the-wall documentaries. Suspects focuses on a team of three detectives and their distinctive approaches to the job of policing.
Ben Frow, Director of Programmes, Channel 5 said, “Suspects has been an incredible critical success for Channel 5, and praised for its innovative and game-changing approach to procedural drama. We’re thrilled by the reaction and are excited about commissioning a further series for later in the year."
Paul Marquess, Managing Director, Newman Street says: “Suspects is the most exciting show I’ve ever made, so we can’t wait to get back into production and we’re delighted to be working with Ben and Greg Barnett again."
Further praise from the media for Suspects:
“Kudos to Channel 5 … A procedural purist’s dream come true… a pacy, naturalistic portrait of [a] cop shop… Fay Ripley, in particular, is excellent as the no-nonsense commanding officer.” - The Independent
“An Innovative new London police procedural.” - The Observer: News Review
“They’ve found a fresh and gripping way to breathe life into a standard police procedural.” - Sunday Mirror: Notebook
“The spontaneous feel of a fly-on-the-waller with the dramatic momentum of a bona fide thriller.” – Metro
“Taut storytelling, matched by naturalistic, semi-improvised performances.” - The Times
“Bedding in nicely since its debut …. And that has a lot to do with the very easy chemistry that exists in the fictional police team.” - The Guardian: Guide
Fay Ripley plays D.I. Martha Bellamy. Witty and warm, Martha fiercely protects her team – and she’s exactly the kind of cop you want knocking on your door when your world has been turned upside down. Damien Molony plays D.S. Jack Weston, whose easy charm belies his killer gut instinct. Jack is a man of action – coupled with acute emotional intelligence. Finally, Clare-Hope Ashitey plays D.C. Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Steele, who has a keen eye for detail and whip-smart instincts which help her cut to the heart of any investigation. Passionate yet level headed, Charlie believes the police can make a real difference...
DS Jack Weston (Damien Molony), DI Martha Bellamy (Fay Ripley) and DC Charlie Steele (Clare-Hope Ashitey) will be returning to our TV screens in brand new drama Suspects for a second series in the Autumn and a third series next year Channel 5 announced today.
Originally a 10 part series, Suspects episode 5 aired on Wednesday 12 March as the finale of series 1, the remaining episodes along with new ones will air in Series 2, with series 3 commissioned for 2015.
Using fly-on-the-wall filming techniques and with dialogue improvised by the actors, Suspects brings a gripping and uniquely real level of drama to television, setting is apart from other cop procedurals. The show has debuted to critical acclaim, receiving praise for it’s originality and approach:
“Smart, effective TV” – Daily Telegraph
“Raw and unconventional… With its improvised dialogue and edgy camerawork, it has the same reek of reality that comes from a fly-on-the-wall documentary.” – The Times
“[Channel 5’s] new high-tension police show Suspects makes such powerful, original viewing.” – Daily Mail
“Kudos to Channel 5 … A procedural purist’s dream come true… a pacy, naturalistic portrait of [a] cop shop… Fay Ripley, in particular, is excellent as the no-nonsense commanding officer.” – The Independent
“An Innovative new London police procedural.” – The Observer: News Review
“They’ve found a fresh and gripping way to breathe life into a standard police procedural.” – Sunday Mirror: Notebook
“The spontaneous feel of a fly-on-the-waller with the dramatic momentum of a bona fide thriller.” – Metro
“Taut storytelling, matched by naturalistic, semi-improvised performances.” – The Times
“Bedding in nicely since its debut …. And that has a lot to do with the very easy chemistry that exists in the fictional police team.” – The Guardian: Guide
Suspects is commissioned by Ben Frow, Director of Programmes at Channel 5, produced by Newman Street (part of FremantleMedia UK), and co-created by Fremantle Managing Director and executive producer Paul Marquess (The Bill, Footballers’ Wives, Hollyoaks).
Ben Frow said on the shows return, “Suspects has been an incredible critical success for Channel 5, and praised for its innovative and game-changing approach to procedural drama. We’re thrilled by the reaction and are excited about commissioning a further series for later in the year.”
Paul Marquess added, “Suspects is the most exciting show I’ve ever made, so we can’t wait to get back into production and we’re delighted to be working with Ben and Greg Barnett again.”
To comment on the Suspects news and discuss with other fans, click here
While this is obviously great news, i think it took a lot of people by surprise, including myself.
In hindsight, the announcement hinted at yesterday could only mean a re-commission but after being yanked by channel five part way through the first series plus the slowly (undeserved) deteriorating ratings, it was kind of a double take moment for me. But i am very pleased, along with the news that there will be a second series with new episodes added to the five already filmed, and a third series next year.
Now channel five need to get their finger out, schedule it for a decent slot where it's not competing against anything similar and with good promotion (it was promoted for the premiere but i would've liked to have seen Damien and Clare do a bit more, understandably Damien couldn't because of TBOAA) It is somewhat nice to see the channel have a bit of faith in their show and taking a chance in it for development instead of casting it aside at the first sign of any potential problems.
And more Damien/Jack on my tv screen for the next year. That's a win in my book! :)
I couldn't think of anything else which would cheer us up either - so I'm not surprised....but still very pleased!
It's curious that they're apparently going to film extra eps for s2 - I wonder how long the series will be? Does this mean that they're going to film another 5 eps for s2....and then a further 10 for s3? But, putting aside that Damien isn't going to be on my tv for the next 5 weeks as expected - this decision does make a lot of sense to me.
It didn't get much attention before it started....and, lets be honest - ep1 (which was shown at the press screening) was very much finding it's feet...so although it has subsequently got good reviews, the press weren't really sure what to make of it. It settled in so rapidly......s1 could very much be seen as a pilot. I suspect(!) that 'returning for a new/second series' might have a greater impact now that they've seen the format works. Just being promoted by ch5 might not be enough....as a lot of people (or is it just me?) don't watch ch5 anyway, so would miss any advertising which they do. Yes - I am hoping that in the intervening few months we see Damien doing lots of promotion/interviews......
And, as I've said before, moving away from Line of Duty has got to be in it's favour.
Excuse my impatience...but I also keep wondering when s3 will be aired - will it be next spring?....or will we have to wait until autumn 2015?!....
Yes the episode count for the additional filming for series 2 is an unknown at the moment, the more episodes the better though!
Have to agree that it is a good idea to move Suspects away from the same night as Line Of Duty on BBC and also ITV's Law and Order now on the same night. It was becoming battle of the crime dramas and I personally would not watch two back to back.
The thing is channel 5 has never been able to compete with the main channels, and I don't think it has tried to, it wants to find it's audience in their own right, but it was risking losing the crime drama audiences to the bigger channels due to the scheduling.
I would love this to be just a brief haitus so the show keeps the audience interested and the momentum it has gained - it seems counterintuitive to lose that.. If I were to 'petition' to the channel to bring it back asap, it would go somwthing like:
Dear channel 5,
We the audience petition you to have faith in your first original drama in 8 years, not press pause on it for too long, just as it is finding its audience and getting into its stride.
Suspects is unique, gritty, gripping homegrown already critically acclaimed British drama that has bettered itself with every episode since premiering, one your channel can be hugely proud of and ought to be putting front and centre over everything else, a worthy programme mascot for the channel.
We applaud the bravery of the channel in bringing such an innovative drama to the channel and request that you see through that commitment with the same boldness, not dilute the impact of the show just as it was gaining momentum and it's audience -
both the worthy rewards of its success
both the results of the ongoing audience investment and engagement with a programme and it's characters and week to week building series arc,
both gifts to be nurtured and built upon now rather than halting the show in its prime, especially as there are 5 remaining episodes ready to be aired.
For these reason we petition you to return Suspects without delay, in a schedule slot to maximise its potential reach and audience.
Eloquently put, domino! And I would happily sign such a petition....but I doubt they'll change their minds now if they're intending to extend the series with extra eps....
The idea of getting more than just another 5 eps in the autumn almost makes up for the wait.....almost! The release date for the dvd suggests that all ???(insert number) eps will have aired before the start of November?!
Yup, I share your feelings on petitiioning channel 5 for speedier Suspects return fifi, it was carthartic to write that all down though Autumn technically starts in September, so that would give ample weeks for extra episodes in series 2 before the dvd comes out!
Lol, with you on that Knightley! thankfully the good news has softened the blow of this sudden cutting short of our current DaMo TV season - lucky you in the US still having weeks of Ripper Street to go!
Good to see you denton, glad you are enjoying Suspects! We have polls for every episode in this section of the forum, please feel free to add your vote!
Domino, you will be happy to know that I took Suspects over to a friend's house tonight and the first thing she said, after saying that it was gripping and quite a bit better than she had expected, is that she liked how it was focused on the suspects and the cases and you didn't get much of the personal lives of the detectives. So you are not alone in your opinion.
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"I should have left a clue. Like, I don't know, locking him in a cellar and tying him to a fucking radiator!"
Hi Jane, good to know you are introducing people to Suspects!
You know, I was really very surprised that not only didn't i miss the personal lives detail but that the lack of it added something to the show... yes the immersion is about the case and the suspects... but for me it is the detectives themselves that keep me invested in the show....espite the lack of personal lives and context, they are fully engaging to wathc and all the more facinating due to the lack of knowing ... we're watching detectives not only for their reactions to the cases and their approaches and joruneys with each case, but they themselves become these mysteries and we're searching for a clue. (can't believe i managed to drop two 80's songs into that last sentence )