Nicola Coughlan Leads Channel 4’s I Am Anthology as Industry Trends Highlight New Drama and AI Innovation

Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan is leading the next series of Channel 4’s acclaimed anthology I Am, which won Kate Winslet a BAFTA two years ago. Coughlan will star in I Am Helen alongside Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole. She developed her role with creator Dominic Savage, though Channel 4 has not yet revealed further details about the season 4 storyline or additional cast members.

The critically-acclaimed anthology focuses on issues facing women in society and has previously featured stars like Letitia Wright and Vicky McClure. The Winslet episode, I Am Ruth, earned a BAFTA in 2023 for Leading Actress. Coughlan expressed her honor in working with Savage, praising his commitment to exploring the female experience through compelling storytelling. Produced by Me+You Productions, the series is co-funded by Sky Studios, with NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handling international sales.

Blind Procedural Sight Unseen Sells to Paramount+ UK and Nine Network

The procedural drama Sight Unseen has been acquired by Paramount+ UK and Australia’s Nine Network. The show centers on Tess Avery, a top homicide detective who becomes clinically blind after a traumatic incident. Despite her impairment, Tess uses an assistance app and partners with Sunny Patel, a professional seeing-eye guide and agoraphobe. After solving a critical case, Tess returns to the force as a civilian consultant.

Produced by Fifth Season and Blink49 Studios, the series stars newcomers Dolly Lewis and Agam Darshi. It has also been licensed to multiple international networks including Play Media (Belgium), AXN Asia, Disney Bulgaria, and others. The show is created by Karen Troubetzkoy and Nikolijne Troubetzkoy, bringing a fresh take on the crime genre with an authentically cast female lead who is sight impaired.

Tom Davidson Joins Particle6 as Chief Commercial Officer

Tom Davidson, former executive at Sony Pictures Television and A+E Networks UK, has joined the British indie Particle6 as Chief Commercial Officer. He will focus on strategies involving AI production, scalable business models, and pricing. Particle6 brands itself as “Europe’s leading up-and-coming AI production studio” specializing in video, TV, and film.

Davidson brings extensive experience from senior roles at Sony Pictures Entertainment and A+E Networks, as well as his leadership at Niche Media Global, consulting for major broadcasters including ITV, UKTV, and PBS. At Particle6, he will work closely with founder and CEO Eline van der Velden to expand the company’s influence in the industry’s AI-driven future.

Channel 4 Orders Trio of British Christmas Specials

Channel 4 has commissioned three one-hour Christmas specials produced by British companies with distributor BossaNova Media. The specials are:

• Christmas at Lapland UK – an immersive festive experience near London.

• Alpine Train at Christmas – following the Bernina Express through the Swiss and Italian Alps.

• Secrets of the Christmas Market – exploring Belfast’s diverse Christmas market.

Produced by GroupM Motion Content in partnership with DocHearts, King of Sunshine Productions, and Afro-Mic Productions, these specials align with the industry’s growing “Christmas in July” trend, building holiday programming early. BossaNova CEO Paul Heaney highlighted the limited availability of fresh festive shows and the value of presenting this trio to audiences well ahead of the season.