Australian broadcaster SBS has secured free TV rights to Red Arrow International’s “The Escape Artist”. While, leading home entertainment distributor Entertainment One Hopscotch (eOne Hopscotch), has acquired DVD and digital rights to the series. Starring David Tennant (“Broadchurch”) and written by David Wolstencroft, “The Escape Artist” was produced by Emmy Award winner Hilary Bevan Jones and Paul Frift of Red Arrow’s Endor Productions for BBC One.

“’The Escape Artist’ has a fascinating premise with an exceptional cast and is a perfect fit for SBS, where we are committed to delivering the best international dramas to our audience. We look forward to introducing this gripping 3-part series to Australia in 2014.” says Peter Andrews, SBS Head of Network Programming.

Jude Troy, Managing Director at eOne Hopscotch, says: “We are thrilled to add this pedigree show to our stable of high end TV shows. It’s a brilliant drama with a stellar cast and the backing of one of the UK’s best producers.”

 Yan He, Senior Vice President Sales, Asia Pacific at Red Arrow International, says: “‘The Escape Artist’ perfectly combines crime thriller with legal drama – having you sat on the edge of your seat from the beginning till the very end. Acing ratings on the BBC and with fantastic acting talent headed by David Tennant, it’s a great call for SBS and eOne Hopscotch.”

The Escape Artist (3 x 60’ / 2 x 90’)

Attracting up to 6.2 million viewers on BBC One, equating to a 23.3% market share of all audiences, “The Escape Artist” sees David Tennant star as defense lawyer Will Burton. Burton specializes in getting people out of tight legal corners, but when his talents acquit the prime suspect in a horrific murder trial, this brilliance comes back to bite him.

Set in a legal world, which is as much about primal feelings as it is about the twists and turns of a horrific murder trial, we see that the law is not just an intellectual exercise, it is all blood and guts when you scratch under the surface.