The £3 million production starts filming next month, from the production company Red (Queer As Folk, Clocking Off). Young is best-known in the UK as the winner of the early-'00s singing competition Pop Idol, who went on to have a successful music career, but he's also appeared in the movie Mrs Henderson Presents, an episode of Miss Marple, and the Noel Coward play Vortex.
Claudia Rosencrantz, Director of Television for the Living TV Group:
"We thought it was time, that the channel was mature and ambitious enough, to commission its first scripted piece. We wanted to make sure Living had a variety of things, including original drama. When I arrived Living was pink and paranormal. That was too narrow an identity. It is all about intelligent, glamorous entertainment now."BBC Worldwide are investing in the show, which means it's likely to arrive on BBC America, and Living have plans to recommission the show if it's a success.
I'm very pleased to see Living taking this step into drama, moving away from their bedrock of reality shows and US imports that appeal to women. There seems to be a resurgence of interest in scripted entertainment just recently, with many digital channels commissioning homegrown dramas that become big hits (BBC3's Being Human, E4's Misfits, etc.)
Bedlam's paranormal connection doesn't hurt, seeing as Living's already famous as the home of Most Haunted and tends to show a lot of supernatural-themed programming already. I can imagine plenty of men tuning in for a good haunted house story, so Bedlam should help widen their demographic appeal.
I'm quietly interested in this project, but I hope they announce some decent writers/directors to seal my confidence. What are your thoughts?
