By Karen Peattie

SCOTLAND’S biggest production company, STV Studios, has won a six-part drama commission from Channel 4. Prison series SCREW, to be filmed next year, is described as “prison as never seen before – the uncensored, terrifying and often darkly funny reality of life as a prison officer in an all-male prison in 21st-century Britain”.

STV Studios, previously STV Productions, rebranded earlier this month. Led by award-winning executive David Mortimer, the company has an impressive track record across drama, entertainment and factual, with commissions spanning BBC One and Two, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC Scotland, Discovery, VH1/MTV and Sky One.

SCREW sees the production business once again join forces with the writer of critically-acclaimed four-part thriller The Victim, Rob Williams – a collaboration which resulted in a Bafta nomination for Best Mini Series and saw leading actress Kelly Macdonald win a Bafta Scotland Award. Williams also wrote an episode of the multi-award-winning drama, Killing Eve.

The commission follows the success of STV Studios’ 2019 drama Elizabeth Is Missing, which delivered significant audiences for BBC One and saw veteran actress Glenda Jackson win the leading actress Bafta. SCREW’s global distribution will be managed by Banijay Rights.

Last year, STV Studios acquired a majority stake in award-winning producer Primal Media. The firm also holds a minority stake in high-end drama producer Two Cities and is exclusive production partner to drama company, Tod Productions.

Sarah Brown, creative director of drama and executive producer for STV Studios said: “Following our successful collaboration on The Victim, we’re thrilled to be teaming up again with the supremely talented Rob Williams to bring his latest series to the screen for Channel 4. I know audiences will fall in love with his funny, anarchic, memorable characters and be captivated once again by his brilliant storytelling

“In Channel 4, we have the perfect partners to bring Rob’s bold and totally authentic portrayal of prison life to TV, and we’re also delighted to be working with the fantastic team at Banijay on distribution.”

Banijay Rights’ commercial director (scripted) Chris Stewart said: “The prison precinct has always held a special fascination for audiences everywhere and we’re excited to be partnering with STV and Channel 4 on SCREW which promises to bring a fresh perspective to a maligned and misunderstood world through the eyes of Rob Williams’s insightfully crafted characters.”