Hot Picks: The Level

Co-written by Lark Rise To Candleford writer Gaby Chiappe and former Casualty producer Alex Perrin, The Level follows corrupt cop Nancy Devlin (Karla Crome), who uses her exemplary police career to conceal her attachment to corrupt businessman and drugs trafficker Frank Le Saux (Philip Glenister).

But when she is placed at the centre of an investigation into Frank, her duplicitous nature threatens to be exposed.

Hillbilly joint managing director Kate Norrish says the indie’s faith in writers Chiappe and Perrin kept the project alive despite early setbacks.

“Although the BBC turned down the pitch, we still thought it was a brilliant idea. There’s a cyclical crop rotation of commissioners and when Steve November came into ITV, we pitched it to him and he commissioned a script. We always said that it was a great idea and we weren’t going to give up on it.”

The Level landed a primetime slot on ITV and launched to an audience of 3.3 million (16.4%) late last month. Norrish says she hopes the diversity of the cast and the show’s “thriller pulse” will continue to attract big numbers on the international stage.

“It’s a really young, mixed cast in terms of age, ethnicity and disability. It’s important that our dramas represent the world we see around us and there is some fantastic talent out there that deserves the recognition.”

Noel Hedges, executive vice-president of content at DRG, which is distributing the series, agrees that the fresh lead cast, flanked by familiar faces in the supporting roles, set the drama apart.

He says: “It’s unusual to do a primetime ITV drama with a relatively unknown cast. It gives it a fresh perspective, a new focus and a new energy.”

Hedges adds that international appetite for British drama has continued to grow despite US dominance.

“British drama still has massive appeal. There’s so much US drama in the market it’s almost saturated, so when it comes to these six-part serialised dramas that the British do so well, people really respond.”