Channel 4 Picks Up ‘Dr. Death’, ‘Queer As Folk’, ‘Becoming Elizabeth’, ‘Cruel Summer’ & More For Streaming
Channel 4 has picked up a stack of content which has previously aired on paid streaming services, to get their free-to-air premiere in “A Summer Of Streaming” on its rebranded streaming service including ‘Dr. Death‘, the US remake of ‘Queer As Folk‘, ‘Becoming Elizabeth’, ‘Cruel Summer‘ & more.
Channel 4 recently rebranded the streaming side of the business under one single “Channel 4” brand, saying that it would give audiences a “more seamless and connected viewing experience across all of Channel 4’s services and platforms.” This enhanced Channel 4 streaming service has increased personalisation features to help viewers discover the very best content more quickly, as well as gain exclusive early access to shows through Channel 4’s premium streaming offering, Channel 4+. More live streaming will also be made available across even more platforms, including Amazon and Samsung devices, and more subtitles and audio descriptions will continue to be added to provide greater accessibility for Channel 4 audiences.
The new acquisitions announced today join a number of previously announced Channel 4 originals, along with a pile of comedy, drama, documentaries, reality, lifestyle and film titles, including international content from Walter Presents, all available for free. These shows will also be broadcast on Channel 4’s linear channels. Here is a breakdown of what is to come over the next few months:
DR. DEATH, SEASON 1
Based on the hit podcast from Wondery, Dr. Death is based on the terrifying true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch (Joshua Jackson), a rising star in the Dallas medical community. Young, charismatic, and ostensibly brilliant, Dr. Duntsch was building a flourishing neurosurgery practice when everything suddenly changed. Patients entered his operating room for complex but routine spinal surgeries and left permanently maimed or dead. As victims piled up, two fellow physicians, neurosurgeon Robert Henderson (Alec Baldwin) and vascular surgeon Randall Kirby (Christian Slater), as well as Dallas prosecutor (AnnaSophia Robb), set out to stop him. Dr. Death explores the twisted mind of Dr. Duntsch, and the failures of the system designed to protect the most defenseless among us.
The series stars Joshua Jackson, Grace Gummer, AnnaSophia Robb with Christian Slater and Alec Baldwin. The drama has been renewed for a second season. Acquired from NBCUniversal
QUEER AS FOLK, SEASON 1
Queer As Folk is Stephen Dunn’s vibrant reimagining of the ground-breaking British drama series created by Russell T. Davies and explores a diverse group of friends in New Orleans whose lives are transformed in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy that rocks their community. The series stars Devin Way, Fin Argus, Jesse James Keitel, CG, Johnny Sibilly and Ryan O’Connell. Kim Cattrall, Juliette Lewis and Ed Begley Jr. also guest star.
The series was cancelled by US streaming service Peacock after one season. Acquired from NBCUniversal.
THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE
The Girl From Plainville is inspired by the true story of Michelle Carter’s controversial “texting-suicide” case. Based on the Esquire article of the same name by Jesse Barron, the limited series explores Carter’s relationship with Conrad Roy III and the events that led to his death and, later, her conviction of involuntary manslaughter.
The series stars Elle Fanning, Chloë Sevigny, Colton Ryan, Cara Buono, Kai Lennox and Norbert Leo Butz. Acquired from NBCUniversal.
BECOMING ELIZABETH, SEASON 1
Created and written by Anya Reiss, Becoming Elizabeth is the untold story of England’s most iconic Queen, before she ascended the throne. Henry VIII’s death throws a young orphan Elizabeth Tudor into the unpredictable and dangerous English court.
Cast includes Alicia Von Rittberg, Romola Garai, Oliver Zetterström, Jessica Raine, Tom Cullen and Bella Ramsey. Acquired from Lionsgate, the series has yet to be renewed or cancelled for Season 2.
CRUEL SUMMER, SEASON 1
From Executive Producers Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple, ‘Cruel Summer’ season one is a psychological thriller that takes place over three summers – 1993, 1994, and 1995 – when a beautiful, popular teen, Kate (Olivia Holt), is abducted and, seemingly unrelated, a girl, Jeanette (Chiara Aurelia), goes from being a sweet, awkward loner to the most popular girl in town and, by ‘95, the most despised person in America. Each episode is told from alternating point of views. Cast includes Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Michael Landes, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Allius Barnes, Blake Lee, Brooklyn Sudano and Sarah Drew.
‘Cruel Summer’ comes from studio eOne and was created by Bert V. Royal. Tia Napolitano serves as showrunner. Executive producers include Napolitano, Royal and Iron Ocean Productions’ Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple. The drama has been renewed for Season 2.
THE CHANGE
Who is she? What is she? Is this it? Convinced she’s got early onset dementia after forgetting what a shoe is called, Linda’s GP informs her it is, in fact, the menopause. Feeling invigorated and empowered by this information, Linda (played by Bridget Christie) decides to claw back some of the time she’s spent doing ‘invisible work’ over the years (not all 3.5 million minutes, just 131,500 of them) and do something for herself… for a change.
Dusting off her old Triumph motorbike that she hasn’t ridden in 30 years, Linda sets off alone to the spectacular wilderness of The Forest of Dean – in search of an identity, a purpose, and a tree she climbed as a child. Along the way she meets an array of eccentric locals, including the infamous Eel Sisters, an angry local radio presenter and a mysterious man who lives in the woods with the wild boar. What could possibly go wrong?
Alongside Bridget Christie, the cast also includes Monica Dolan, Susan Lynch, Tanya Moodie, Liza Tarbuck, Omid Djalili, Jerome Flynn, Jim Howick and Paul Whitehouse. Produced by Expectation.
SCREW, SEASON 2
The critically acclaimed prison drama returns, joined by Lee Ingleby (The Serpent Queen, The Hunt for Raoul Moat) as Morgan, a new prisoner with a hidden agenda. The team of embattled prison officers played by Nina Sosanya, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Faraz Ayub (Suspicion, The Capture), Stephen Wight (I May Destroy You, Rain Dogs), Ron Donachie (Titanic, Game of Thrones), and Laura Checkley (King Gary, Detectorists) will all be returning. Ben Tavassoli (Bulletproof, Compulsion) will also reprise his role as Louis Costa.
Other new faces on the wing include Barnaby Kay (Wallander, The Five) playing the new Governor; Leo Gregory (Out of Control, Green Street) playing prisoner Reeks and David Judge (Romeo and Juliet, Prey) playing prisoner Hemmings. Produced by STV Studios.
BEFORE WE DIE, SEASON 2
Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey, Three Girls) as detective Hannah Laing is back to head up the cast of this hit returning series. Hannah joins forces with maverick detective Billy Murdoch, played by Vincent Regan (Troy, 300) in a desperate bid to protect her son Christian, played by Patrick Gibson (The OA, Guerrilla).
Season two will see Hannah pitched directly against Dubravka, played by Kazia Pelka (World’s End, Casualty) the matriarch at the head of the Mimica Croatian crime family. Steve Toussaint (House of the Dragon) also returns and Priyanga Burford (No Time to Die) joins the cast for Season 2. Produced by Eagle Eye Drama.
These shows do not yet have exact premiere date, but will air on both the Channel 4 linear channels (Channel 4, E4 etc…) and on streaming in Summer 2023.
