ITVX Free Streamer Gets December Launch Date With Impressive Original Line-Up
ITV has set a launch date of Thursday, 8th December 2022 for their brand new free streaming service ITVX, with an impressive array of Original series and box sets due to arrive on launch and within the first few weeks.
The free streaming service, which replaces ITV Hub as the online home of all ITV content, promises a new and improved product experience, alongside more new and exclusive programmes to stream for free, with over 10,000 hours of free content. That includes over 250 films and more than 200 series at launch.
ITVX Original commissions include:
A Spy Among Friends – 8th December 2022
Based on the New York Times best-selling book written by Ben Macintyre, the limited series stars Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce and will premiere on ITVX first, before arriving six to nine months later on ITV’s linear broadcast channel.
The drama follows the defection of a notorious British intelligence officer and KGB double agent, Kim Philby (Pearce), through the lens of his complex relationship with MI6 colleague and close friend, Nicholas Elliott (Lewis). The show examines espionage through their friendship, the fallout of which affects East-West relations to this day.
Tell Me Everything – 8th December 2022
‘Tell Me Everything’ is a drama about growing up in small-town Britain in the 2020s. It’s about those teenage years when the world is opening up to you in all its messy, drunken, dangerous, brilliant glory. That brief window when you might not yet be a fully paid-up adult, but you’re definitely not a kid anymore. You don’t really know who or what you are – but pretty much anything seems possible.
The series is created by Mark O’Sullivan (‘Lee and Dean’, ‘The Agency’) who writes and appears in the drama. The cast also includes Eden H. Davies, Tessa Lucille, Spike Fearn, Carla Woodcock, Callina Liang and Lauryn Ajufo.
The Confessions Of Frannie Langton – 8th December 2022
‘The Confessions of Frannie Langton’ is a four-part drama, produced by Drama Republic and adapted by author and writer Sara Collins from her breath-taking debut novel of the same name.
Karla-Simone Spence (‘Blue Story’, ‘Wannabe’) leads the cast in the role of Frannie Langton, the drama’s young protagonist born into a life of slavery who is fighting to tell her own story. She is joined by Sophie Cookson (‘The Trial of Christine Keeler’, ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’) as Madame Marguerite Benham and Patrick Martins (‘Redemption’, ‘Blasts From The Past’) as Olaudah “Laddie” Cambridge in the murder mystery drama.
Plebs: Soldiers Of Rome – 8th December 2022
After five successful series, multi award-winning comedy ‘Plebs‘ ends with a feature-length 85 minute special.
Marcus, Grumio, Jason and Aurelius (Tom Rosenthal, Ryan Sampson, Jon Pointing and Tom Basden) join the army in peace-time, hoping to win respect, romance and discounts at participating restaurants. But when war’s declared, they’re sent to fight on the front line for a cause they don’t believe in. Now their main interest is the struggle for survival…
Plebs is directed and written by Sam Leifer and co-written by Tom Basden.
Litvinenko – 15th December 2022
From the acclaimed duo of screenwriter George Kay (‘Lupin’, ‘Criminal’), and director Jim Field Smith (‘Criminal’, ‘Truth Seekers’), ‘Litvinenko’ is the story of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian Federal Security Services and KGB officer whose death, from polonium poisoning in November 2006, triggered one of the most complex and dangerous investigations in the history of the Metropolitan Police.
Riches – 22nd December 2022
‘Riches’ is a glossy, high stakes family drama which focuses upon the exploits of the brash, super-successful and wealthy Richards family, and is written and created by Abby Ajayi (‘How To Get Away With Murder’, ‘Four Weddings And A Funeral’, ‘Inventing Anna’).
Deborah Ayorinde (‘Them’, ‘Truth Be Told’) stars as Nina, the estranged daughter of self-made millionaire Stephen Richards played by Hugh Quarshie (‘Stephen’, ‘The Murder of Stephen Lawrence’). Sarah Niles (‘Ted Lasso’, ‘I May Destroy You’) plays Stephen’s second wife, Claudia, and Brendan Coyle (‘Downton Abbey’, ‘Requiem’) is Stephen’s trusted advisor and confidante, Gideon. Hermione Norris (‘Cold Feet’, ‘Luther’) will play Stephen’s long-standing and faithful PA, Maureen Dawson.
A Year on Planet Earth – 22nd December 2022
‘A Year on Planet Earth’, which will be narrated for the UK by the acclaimed actor, comedian and author Stephen Fry, draws on the most spellbinding and dramatic stories from all corners of the globe. Featuring a story arc across the seasons, it is set to draw viewers in over a number of episodes, unfolding like a drama. The series is a new narrative approach, showcasing the many wonders of the world, revealing the incredible ways in which all life is connected and how massive natural events affect the lives of individual animals.
Without Sin – 28th December 2022
A four-part psychological thriller exploring the relationship which develops between a grieving mother and the man she believes murdered her daughter.
BAFTA and RTS award winning actress Vicky McClure (‘Line of Duty’, ‘Broadchurch’, ‘Trigger Point’) plays the leading role of Stella Tomlinson, whose 14-year-old daughter Maisy, is found dead at their family home with the bloodied, hooded figure of Charles Stone standing over her. Acclaimed film and television actor, Johnny Harris (‘The Salisbury Poisonings’, ‘Medici’, ‘Troy: Fall of a City’) stars alongside Vicky as Charles.
It is written by Frances Poletti (‘Charlie Says’, ‘Miss Todd’), who created the series for Vicky and Johnny, reuniting the pair on screen for the first time since 2010’s ‘This Is England ’86’.
Other new Original series include the adrenaline-fuelled new game show ‘Loaded in Paradise’ which will launch on 28th December, and ‘Nolly‘, Russell T Davies’ upcoming drama on Crossroads’ Noele Gordon, which will launch in early 2023.
In addition to the original series, the service will also be launching full series of upcoming flagship ITV shows on their first day of broadcast, allowing viewers to binge-watch to their hearts’ content. Early examples will include real-life drama ‘Stonehouse’ starring Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes and the new series of ‘Unforgotten‘ which will be made available in early 2023. These series are in addition to the vast library of over 200 both recent and classic US and UK dramas, comedies and reality shows that will be available to users.
On the film side, the service will launch with over 250 movies, with a thousand films to be made available to stream each year. Films available at launch will include the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy, the ‘Despicable Me’ trilogy, ‘Wonder Woman’ and many more. The full ‘Fast and Furious’ series of films will be launched in 2023.
If you prefer your viewing to be based more in real life, ITVX will launch with an impressive array of documentaries, and also feature a dedicated true crime collection with over 150 hours of nail-biting viewing including ‘Monster in My Family’, which delves into the lives of serial killers in a way that’s rarely seen. ‘The Case Against Cosby’ – a premium documentary exposing new truths about accusations against the comedian will follow in 2023. ITVX factual commissions ‘Rolf Harris: Hiding in Plain Sight’ (w/t), ‘The Rise and Fall of Boris Becker’ (w/t) will also launch in 2023.
They haven’t forgotten us geeks either, as the service includes an array of sci-fi and fantasy series from classics including ‘Thunderbirds’, ‘Captain Scarlet’, ‘Terrahawks’, ‘Joe 90’, ‘Stingray’, ‘Space 1999’ and ‘UFO’, to the likes of ‘Supernatural’, ‘The 100’ and ‘Nikita’, and classics in the making including ‘Astrid & Lilly Save the World’ and Korean-American hit series ‘Dramaworld’.
“We’re really excited to launch ITVX, with more content available than ever before, and a whole range of exclusive commissions,” said ITV’s Chief Executive, Carolyn McCall. “ITVX is powered by a significant, streaming-first commissioning budget, and an integrated technology and data platform providing a high quality, and more personalised viewing and advertising experience, that will continue to evolve in 2023 and beyond.”
ITVX launches on Thursday, 8th December 2022 in the UK.
