Channel 4 announce seductive thriller series Careless, starring Solly McLeod, Robyn Malcolm, Katie Leung and Richard Roxburgh

Channel 4 today announced that production has commenced on the four-part gripping and provocative thriller, Careless, an original drama by Australian broadcaster and streamer, Stan, produced in association with Channel 4, Nine Network, All3Media International and Screen Scotland, supported by Screen NSW, and led by Solly McLeod (House of the Dragon), Robyn Malcolm (After The Party), Katie Leung (Bridgerton) and Richard Roxburgh (Rake).

From creators Helen Fitzgerald (author of The Cry) and Louise Fox (Broadchurch) and produced by Easy Tiger Productions and Synchronicity Films, Careless will also star Mabel Li (The Testaments) and Thomas Weatherall (The Narrow Road To The Deep North) and Alison Peebles (Dept. Q).

Nine Entertainment’s Executive Director, Entertainment Content Commissioning, Michael Healy said: “Careless is a riveting and relentlessly compelling thriller. We’re excited to collaborate once again with Easy Tiger Productions and Synchronicity Films, whose creative excellence brought us Scrublands, Doctor Doctor and The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Anchored by a remarkable cast, the Stan Original Careless is exceptional storytelling and we look forward to sharing this series with viewers soon.”

Polly Scates, Head of Acquisitions at Channel 4, said: “Careless has all the ingredients of a great psychological thriller - a pacy script, layered characters, and plenty of menace and intrigue. But it also shines a light on how people can be failed by the very systems meant to protect them, and I think this combination will appeal to our viewers. We feel privileged to be working with such an exceptional cast and creative team… and of course getting Robyn Malcolm back on the channel was a no brainer.”

Ian Collie and Rob Gibson, founder and CEO of Easy Tiger respectively, said: “From the seed of the idea over a random London lunch with author Helen Fitzgerald to its evolution as a compelling psychosexual thriller, it has been our privilege and joy to support the talented writing team of Lou Fox and Christian White and the brilliant direction of Stevie Cruz-Martin and her gifted cast and crew. Big shout out to our Scottish co producer partners Synchronicity, producer Angela Littlejohn and to Stan, Channel Four, All3Media International, Screen NSW and Screen Scotland.”

Claire Mundell, Founder and Creative Director of Synchronicity Films, said: “Careless is exactly the kind of bold, emotionally complex storytelling that Synchronicity is passionate about championing and it’s a co-pro with our favourite territory- Australia! Louise and Helen have created a provocative, character-led thriller that asks difficult questions about power, intimacy and trust, and we’re thrilled to be bringing it to the screen with such outstanding creative partners. Working alongside our partners Stan, Channel 4, All3, Screen Scotland and Easy Tiger, and filming in Glasgow and Sydney.”

Maartje Horchner, EVP Content, All3Media International, said: “A dream collaboration between Synchronicity and Easy Tiger - an exciting glossy thriller with an amazing cast in the most beautiful locations.

Working with Claire, Ian and Rob has been a delight, they are a creative force and we - with partners Stan and Channel 4 are eager for the content they make together.”

Screen NSW Acting Executive Director, Karla Lampe said : “Easy Tiger continue to deliver high quality Australian projects. With a standout creative team, including NSW based co-creator and writer Louise Fox and director Stevie Cruz-Martin, Careless promises to be a compelling series with strong appeal for audiences locally and internationally. It’s great to welcome another high-end Australian screen project to our state, and with the support of the Made in NSW – TV Drama Fund, Careless is set to create over 450 jobs in NSW.”

Kieran Hannigan, Head of Scripted at Screen Scotland said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support Claire and the team at Synchronicity Films in Glasgow to deliver another incredibly strong Scottish/Australian co-production. Just like the international hit, that was The Cry, we know Careless is sure to have audiences hooked.”

When Scottish backpacker Robbie (Solly McLeod) finds himself in Sydney, he is determined to become a live-in carer for a notorious rock’n’roll legend, Mike (Richard Roxburgh), who has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. To his delight, he nails the interview and gets the gig.

But, as he grows closer to Mike, he also grows closer to Mike’s wife Angela (Robyn Malcolm) and becomes a confidante to both Mike and Angela. As Robbie integrates himself further in their relationship, it becomes clear there’s something in Robbie’s past which may put Mike and Angela in serious danger.

The Stan Original Careless is written by Louise Fox (Glitch) (Episodes 1,2 and 4) and Christian White (Relic) (Episode 3), directed by Stevie Cruz-Martin (Safe Home) and produced by Easy Tiger (Colin From Accounts) and Synchronicity Films (Tattooist of Auschwitz, a Sky and Stan Original).

Produced by Angela Littlejohn with Ian Collie and Rob Gibson as Executive Producers for Easy Tiger, alongside Claire Mundell and Deanne Cunningham who are Executive Producers for Synchronicity. Louise Fox and Adrian Burns are also Executive Producers. International sales for the series will be handled by All3Media International, with major production investment from Screen Scotland’s Broadcast Content Fund and Screen NSW’s Made in NSW TV Drama Fund. Stan Executive Producers are Michael Healy and Andy Ryan, Polly Scates has pre-bought the series for Channel 4, and Kieran Hannigan executive produces for Screen Scotland.

The Stan Original Careless is now in production in Sydney and Glasgow.

About Channel 4

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.

The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.

Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.

In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market.

From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions.

Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 43 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history.

https://www.channel4.com

About Stan

Stan is Australia’s leading local streaming service and unrivalled home of original productions.

Stan’s original production slate includes hit series Black Snow, starring Travis Fimmel; Rian Johnson’s Poker Face; Thou Shalt Not Steal, starring Noah Taylor and Miranda Otto; groundbreaking LGBTQIA+ series Invisible Boys; Ten Pound Poms starring Michelle Keegan; the Stan Original Dating series Love Triangle, a modern take on the struggle for love; and countless other acclaimed original series and films. Stan’s studio partnerships include Sony, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount, AMC, Warner Bros Discovery, Disney, AmazonMGM, All3Media, BBC and more. Through these partnerships, Stan offers Australians unlimited access to thousands of hours of premium entertainment with an outstanding lineup of exclusive premieres and blockbuster movies.

About Easy Tiger Productions

Easy Tiger Productions, headed by Ian Collie and Rob Gibson, is the producer of globally acclaimed and award-winning shows including Colin from Accounts (Binge, BBC, Paramount+), The Twelve (Binge, ITV), Scrublands (Stan, BBC, AMC Sundance), Territory (Netflix), Rake (ABC), Jack Irish (ABC) and the hit Disney movie Saving Mr Banks, along with the forthcoming shows in 2026 Treasure & Dirt ( ABC, BBC) and Caper Crew (ABC Kids) amongst other popular drama, comedy and documentary productions.

About Synchronicity Films

Synchronicity Films is an Emmy and Grammy-nominated production company owned and run by BAFTA-winning producer, executive producer and CEO Claire Mundell and COO Adrian Burns. Synchronicity has a reputation for high-quality adaptations of critically acclaimed IP such as the Sunday Times / New York Times bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz, now a major 6part original Sky and Peacock series. With an investment in telling real-life stories, Synchronicity followed the drama with the release of the feature documentary The Tattooist’s Son: Journey to Auschwitz, which marked the company’s first foray into unscripted content. Other television credits include an adaptation by Andrea Gibb of Andrew O’Hagan’s Mayflies produced for BBC One, and psychological thriller The Cry, adapted from Helen FitzGerald’s novel by Jacquelin Perske, also for BBC One. The company is also active in film with credits including Karen Gillan’s The Party’s Just Beginning; BIFA / BAFTA nominated Only You by Harry Wootliff; and Andrew Haigh’s debut film Weekend. Upcoming projects include Graeme Armstrong’s The Young Team for BBC Drama; Blue Mountain, a co-production with Frank Spotnitz’s Big Light Productions and Jacquelin Perske’s adaptation of Liam McIlvanney’s taut thriller The Good Father.

About All3Media International

All3Media International distributes popular, award-winning TV programmes to over 1,000 broadcasters and media platforms around the world and manages FAST and AVOD channels. The company has been celebrated for producing, marketing and distributing high-quality, ground-breaking and pioneering shows to a global audience from All3Media Group producers and leading third-party producers. All3Media International has consistently topped the Broadcast and Televisual annual Indies Surveys and received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its growth – twice. Its catalogue contains over 35,000 hours of content across all genres. As well as one of Britain’s top-selling drama series MIDSOMER MURDERS, All3Media International’s quality scripted content includes returning favorites such as ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL and TRIGGER POINT, celebrated classics SKINS, FLEABAG and IT’S A SIN and star-studded dramas such as THE ENGLISH, THE TOURIST in addition to THE ASSASSIN starring Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore, TRESPASSES featuring Gillian Anderson and upcoming series SECRET SERVICE led by Gemma Arterton.

The distributor’s expansive format slate includes global phenomenon THE TRAITORS. Named K7’s format of the year in 2024, over 30 territories have commissioned local versions, over 50 territories have broadcast episodes via tape sales and All3Media International also handles ancillary rights. Other celebrated formats include RACE ACROSS THE WORLD, LINGO and CASH CAB. Scripted formats from All3Media International’s catalogue include LIAR, the global hit thrillers commissioned in 15 territories, INFORMER, BLOOD and CHEAT as well as more lighthearted series such as QUEER AS FOLK, LAID and STEP DAVE.