Channel 4 is to own the UK rights to air After The Party from Lingo Pictures, a new critically acclaimed six-part thrilling drama based in Aotearoa/New Zealand about a woman who loses everything when she accuses her husband of a sex crime against her daughter’s teenage friend and no one believes her.

Penny Wilding played by Robyn Malcolm (Outrageous Fortune, Black Bird, Top of the Lake), is a science teacher, basketball coach, environmental activist, mother and grandmother. Penny tells it like it is, whether she’s waging graffiti attacks on fishing boats, lecturing teenage boys on how porn will destroy their sex lives or laying her middle-aged body bare for life-drawing artists. Her attitude wins her few friends in her close-knit coastal town of Wellington, and Penny’s fine with that.

But five years ago, Penny’s world imploded when she accused her husband Phil played by Peter Mullan (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Westworld, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) of a sex crime and nobody believed her. When Penny’s now ex-husband returns to town, her daughter pressures her to let go of her accusations and move on. As her old furies rise to the surface, Penny must decide what’s more important – the truth or rebuilding her relationships with everyone around her?

From award-winning producers Lingo Pictures (The Secrets She Keeps, Lambs of God, and Upright), part of ITV Studios, and Luminous Beast, After The Party is an original commission for TVNZ in New Zealand and is made in association with and distributed by ITV Studios who brokered the deal.

Helen Bowden, Producer said: “Channel 4 is the perfect place for After the Party to screen in the UK. It’s the home of bold, authentic drama and Lingo Pictures and Luminous Beast are thrilled at this news.”

Polly Scates, Head of Acquisitions at Channel 4 said: “We’re thrilled that Channel 4 will be the UK home of After the Party. Full of twists, turns and stunning performances, this important series is sure to keep audiences guessing and stay with them long after the final episode.”

After The Party will be available soon to stream and watch live on Channel 4.

After The Party attracted an average 34% share of all viewers across the series when it aired on TVNZ and received huge critical acclaim in the Aotearoa/New Zealand press. The Spinoff called it “NZ’s best TV drama in years” and The Post declared it “A solid, gripping drama worthy of your time”.

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