Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street Productions, part of ITV Studios, has revealed Katherine Parkinson and Youssef Kerkour as the leads in new ITVX comedy-drama Significant Other.
The show explores the unromantic-romance of two people whose drastic, but fateful, first meeting turns their lives around. The series starts filming in Manchester next month and will air on ITVX in 2023.
Adapted from yes Studios’ award-winning Israeli series of the same name, Significant Other was created by Dana Modan, Assi Cohen and Ram Nehari, and it has been adapted and written by Dana Fainaru (Vikings: Valhalla, The Last Czars, Death in Paradise), and Hamish Wright (Mr Selfridge, Casualty, The Secret Life of Us), who also serve as executive producers alongside Shindler (It’s a Sin, Stay Close, Years and Years, Ridley Road, Happy Valley).
David Sant (Spitting Image, Hitmen, Jack and the Beanstalk: After Ever After, Benidorm) is directing and Debbie Pisani (Flack, Back to Life, Peep Show) is series producing the new 6 x 30-minute comedy-drama, which marks the second production for Shindler’s Quay Street Productions.
BAFTA-winning actors Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd, Hitmen, Defending the Guilty) and Youssef Kerkour (Stay Close, House of Gucci, Home), play Anna and Sam, two lonely neighbours in their mid-40’s, who embark on a hesitant, obstacle-filled relationship after drastic life events bring them together.
Parkinson said: “Significant Other is a beautifully unconventional love story, and I’m so thrilled to be bringing it to life with Nicola Shindler and her team. It deals with loneliness and the messiness of love and I hope the scripts will resonate as much with an audience as they did with me. I can’t wait to get started!”
Shindler added: “From the moment Dana and Hamish started talking to me about the idea of Significant Other I loved the idea of a romance built from such dark foundations, both very funny and very real. I’m incredibly happy to have such a brilliant cast in Katherine and Youssef as our pairing to bring these very flawed, very lovable characters to life, along with our skilful director David Sant to create our world, and our partners in ITVX.”
Significant Other was commissioned by Nana Hughes as part of ITVX’s comedy slate and will be available in 2023.
Quay Street Productions, which was founded in January 2021, marks a new chapter in the career of BAFTA-award winning produce Shindler. Sitting within ITV Studios, the label focuses on producing premium drama for the UK and international market, working with the best, new and critically acclaimed writers in the industry to create modern, innovative, and entertaining programming.
In addition to Significant Other, Quay Street Productions is currently in production on Russell T Davies’ drama Nolly, starring Helena Bonham Carter.
Significant Other is in association with, and distributed internationally by, ITV Studios.
