The UK crime drama network Alibi has ordered the new series Mudtown. The six-part series is a co-commission with Welsh language free-to-air channel S4C and All3Media International and will be shooting back-to-back in both English and Welsh language versions. It will premiere in 2025.
Mudtown is written by duo Hannah Daniel (star of Keeping Faith, Holby City) and Georgia Lee , who also sits on the Bench as a Magistrate. The series will center around life at Newport’s Magistrates Court.
Erin Richards (Gotham, The Crown) is set to take the lead as Claire Lewis Jones, alongside Tom Cullen (The Gold, Becoming Elizabeth) as St Pete, Matthew Gravelle (Broadchurch, Steeltown Murders) as Alun Lewis Jones, Lauren Morais (The Red King) as Beca Lewis Jones, Lloyd Meredith (The Red King, Gran Turismo) as Sonny Higgins, Kimberly Nixon (The Salisbury Poisonings, Life and Death in the Warehouse) as Sara Humphries, Sion Pritchard (Pila Pala, The Indian Doctor) as Davey Johns and Ifan Huw Dafydd (The Light in the Hall, Requiem) as Owen Williams.
The series follows experienced Magistrate Claire Lewis Jones as she faces personal turmoil while presiding over cases at Newport Magistrates Court. When Ned Humphries, a childhood friend of Beca, Claire’s daughter, faces arson charges, Claire’s loyalty to her community is put to the test. Matters are made worse when local criminal kingpin Saint Pete appears on the scene. Claire and Saint Pete go back a long way – will her past come back to threaten her present? As she delves deeper into the case, and suspicions grow around her daughter’s new bad-boy boyfriend, Sonny Higgins, Claire uncovers a web of criminal activity that could put her and her family at risk. As the truth emerges and consequences unfold, Claire must confront her own biases and decisions. The lines between right and wrong become blurred, leaving Claire in muddy waters as her maternal instincts clash with her commitment to uphold the law.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to represent the untold world of the magistrate’s court, shot through with an authentic South Walian spirit," said Lee and Daniel in a statement. "We couldn’t be more excited about bringing the characters and this thrilling story to the screen with such strong partners.”