ITV To Beef Up Schedules With US Acquisitions

ITV is set to beef up its schedules with the acquisition of three major American drama series.

The broadcaster has picked up the highly sought-after Warner Brothers series Pushing Daisies, which stars former Brookside actress Anna Friel, and CBS’ Swingtown, which features This Life actor Jack Davenport. Both are set to air on ITV1 next year.

ITV has also acquired CBS’ Cane, starring The West Wing‘s Jimmy Smits, which is expected to air on digital channel ITV3.

Pushing Daisies, which is also expected to go out on ITV2, features an “unprecedented blend of romance, crime procedure and high-concept fantasy” in a tale about a man who can bring people back from the dead simply by touching them.

Swingtown, which will also air on ITV3, features a couple who move their family to an affluent suburb in search of a sense of community but find “much more than recipes, local gossip and a view of Lake Michigan”.

The CBS show is executive produced by The OC‘s Mike Kelley and Six Feet Under‘s Alan Poul.

Cane is described as an “epic drama” about the rivalries and power struggles of a large Cuban-American family running a rum business in south Florida.

The ITV director of acquisitions, Jay Kandola, said: “These shows are the perfect fit for ITV’s family of channels, epitomising a fresh and unique style of programming from some of the most innovative producers and credible stars in American broadcasting.”

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