Riveting international drama series “The A Word” will premiere for American audiences on Wednesday, July 13th at 10/9c on SundanceTV. The six-episode, one-hour drama captures an authentic portrait of one multigenerational family after their young son is diagnosed with autism. The series is a co-production partnership with Keshet International. SundanceTV is the first broadcaster outside the UK to air the series.
Simultaneously dramatic and heartwarming, thought-provoking and lighthearted, “The A Word” follows 5-year-old Joe (Max Vento); Joe’s parents, Paul (Lee Ingleby, “Our Zoo,” “Inspector George Gently”) and Alison (Morven Christie, “Grantchester”), who struggle with parenting philosophies; his aunt and uncle, Nicola (Vinette Robinson, “Sherlock”) and Steve (Greg McHugh, “Fresh Meat”), who are working through unfaithfulness in their marriage; and his grandfather, Maurice (Chris Eccleston, “The Leftovers,” “Fortitude”), a recent widower and the owner of the family brewery.
“‘The A Word’ is exactly the kind of intimate, unique and emotionally impactful story we want to showcase on SundanceTV,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. “It’s hopeful, honest and ultimately about the power of family, and the range of issues that families can face together, from autism to aging to adultery. We can’t wait to share it with our growing universe of SundanceTV viewers.”
“The A Word” is based on the Israeli Keshet and July August Productions drama series, Yellow Peppers, created and written by Keren Margalit, who is also executive producer on the UK series. “The A Word” premiered to strong ratings on BBC1 in March. Metro UK raves that “‘The A Word’ is a masterclass in ensemble acting and scriptwriting that is as funny as it is heartrending.”
The English language version is written by multiple BAFTA winner and Golden Globe®nominee Peter Bowker (Marvellous, Blackpool), directed by Oscar® nominee and BAFTA winner Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty, Rev), Dominic Leclerc (Shameless) and Susan Tully (Good Cop). The series is a Fifty Fathoms (Fortitude) and Keshet UK co-production for BBC One and is executive produced for Fifty Fathoms by Patrick Spence, Peter Bowker and Jenny Frayn, by Sara Johnson and Avi Nir for Keshet and by Lucy Richer for BBC One. Marcus Wilson (“Doctor Who,” “Life on Mars”) is a producer.