EXCLUSIVE: Canada‘s CBC and BBC Northern Ireland have greenlit Committed, a ten-part comedy co-production starring Schitt’s Creek actor Dustin Milligan and Derry Girls‘ Diona Doherty.
The series will follow Milligan as Canadian Peter Hooley (Schitt’s Creek, Hot Frosty) as a recently divorced accountant who falls head over heels for Northern Irish woman Julie Johnston, played by Doherty (Derry Girls, Blue Lights), after a whirlwind weekend in Toronto. He crosses the Atlantic to declare his love, only to find himself in old-fashion and eccentric village in rural Northern Ireland.
Also cast are Ian McElhinney (Derry Girls, Game of Thrones), Dan Gordon (Blue Lights, Bloodlands), Muki Zubis (This is Going to Hurt), Seamus O’Hara (House of Guinness, Say Nothing), Patrick Buchanan (Blue Lights, Warrior), Chris McCurry (Belfast, Obituary), Athena Karkanis (Manifest, The Handmaid’s Tale) and Georgie Murphy (Stumble, Gen V).
The show comes from Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent maker Cameron Pictures and Belfast-based Fabel Productions, and filming is underway in County Down, Northern Ireland, with additional scenes shooting in Hamilton, Ontario. The series is slated to premiere on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service in winter 2027 and expected to air on BBC Northern Ireland around the same time.
Top row: Ian McElhinney, Georgie Murphy, Muki Zubis, Seamus O’Hara. Bottom row: Athena Karkanis, Chris McCurry, Patrick Buchanan, Dan Gordon
Chris Hill, Jeffrey Mosier Photography, B Clarence Photography, Nathan Magee, Bjoern Kommerell, Brandon Bishop, Khara Pringle, Damian McCann
While it’s not unusual for production companies in Canada and the UK, which share English as a first language, to discuss co-productions, it’s rarer for theme to come to fruition, and especially so for a comedy. The show is being made under the UK/Canada Co-Production Treaty and was was developed under the Northern Ireland Screen/Canada Media Fund Co-Development Initiative for Audiovisual Projects. Fox Entertainment Global is onboard as international distributor.
Keith Martin, Gerry Dee and Tim Loane, who is the showrunner, are the creators. Exec producers are Amy Cameron, Tassie Cameron and Alex Patrick for Cameron Pictures; Martin for Fabel; Loane and Dee; Jessie Gabe; and Molly McGlynn, who also directs the pilot and four episodes. Peter Huang directs five episodes. Co-executive producers are Milligan, Karen Tsang, Caledonia Brown and Shebli Zarghami.
Chris Martin is producer, and the writers include Loane, Gabe and Zarghami, with the supervising producer being Kurt Smeaton and consulting producer Linsey Stewart.
For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Programming; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Sandra Picheca is Director, Current Production, Comedy; and Mélanie Lê Phan is Executive in Charge of Current Production. For BBC Northern Ireland, Eddie Doyle is Head of Content Commissioning and Jason Butler is Commissioning Editor. Additional financing was provided by the Canada Media Fund and Northern Ireland Screen.
“Committed offers a classic fish-out-of-water comedy intertwined with a unique love story that follows the all too human aftermath of a grand romantic gesture, rather than the build-up to it,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports, CBC. “We know the show will connect with audiences in Canada and around the world thanks to its heart and authenticity, and are excited to be partnering with BBC Northern Ireland alongside the outstanding teams at Cameron Pictures and Fabel Productions.”
“Audiences are going to fall in love with this bold new comedy series,” said Jason Butler, BBC Northern Ireland Commissioning Editor. “We’ve a brilliant cast that viewers will be familiar with on both sides of the Atlantic – we’re delighted to welcome Dustin to these shores starring alongside our own Diona Doherty. And it’s fantastic for BBC Northern Ireland to link up with CBC on this innovative project helping to further develop and support the creative industry here and to bring a flavour of our Northern Ireland humour to comedy fans further afield.”
“Committed brings together so many of the elements we value in great television: sharp writing, memorable characters and a story that bridges cultures in a genuinely entertaining way,” said Amy Cameron, co-founder and executive producer at Cameron Pictures.
“Reuniting with CBC on a series of this scope and collaborating closely with Fabel Productions to bring this cross-Atlantic story to life, has been an energizing creative experience. This is a series rooted in place and perspective, yet universally relatable, and we’re excited for audiences to fall in love with these characters as much as we have.”
“To make a comedy from this part of this Island with all its quirks, huge hearts and ugly-beautiful glory is a career highlight,” said Martin, executive producer at Fabel. “We’re so excited to share our abrasive but loveable, odd folk and their daft wee community with the world. Wait until you see our amazingly talented Canadian and beloved homegrown cast. A dream. Thank you to all of our partners for making the leap in the name of love to a place not often seen or celebrated. High hopes, comedy with consequences and lots of animals to follow.”
Prentiss Fraser, President of Fox Entertainment Global said the show “exemplifies the kind of distinctive, character-driven storytelling that travels, resonating across borders and cultures.”