ITV Studios is expanding the international reach of its crime and thriller catalogue at MIPCOM 2026, announcing new distribution deals for scripted titles alongside the renewal of Scottish crime drama Karen Pirie and the international rollout of a psychological social experiment created by Derren Brown.
One of the headline developments is the return of Karen Pirie, which ITV has renewed for a third series based on Val McDermid’s novel The Skeleton Road. Produced by World Productions, the six-part drama will see Lauren Lyle reprise her role as the determined Scottish investigator. Written by Gillian Roger Park, the new series is scheduled to begin filming in 2027.
The story opens with the discovery of human remains in a derelict building in Edinburgh. What initially appears to be a historical mystery develops into an investigation involving a Balkan refugee, a celebrated author and a trail of revenge. The renewal follows strong audience performance for the previous series, which averaged 5.3 million viewers, reached a peak of 5.6 million and accumulated 11 million streams across ITVX and STV Player.
ITV Studios’ Crime and Thriller Titles Find New International Audiences
ITV Studios is also extending the international distribution of The Dark, a crime drama set in rural Scotland that centres on a serial killer investigation. The title has reached 23 territories, reflecting continued demand for crime stories rooted in distinctive settings and complex investigations.
Another major title in the catalogue is The Killings at Parrish Station, which has sold to more than 70 countries. Set against the backdrop of a massacre at a remote Australian research station in 1987, the story returns to the site 37 years later, when a new series of murders raises questions about the original killings and their lasting consequences.
Alongside these crime-focused titles, ITV Studios has acquired international distribution rights to Incognito, a six-part psychological social experiment created by Derren Brown and produced by Vaudeville for Channel 4. The series brings together ten strangers assigned identities such as soldier, spy, priest and porn star, exploring how labels shape perceptions, interactions and judgments. Its premise places human behaviour and social assumptions at the centre of a format with potential appeal beyond the UK market.
The wider distribution slate also includes Sherlock, which continues to travel internationally, as well as Number 10, Adultery and Tip Toe. While these titles cover a broader range of scripted genres, their international sales demonstrate ITV Studios’ continued effort to bring established and new drama properties to audiences across multiple territories.
With Karen Pirie returning and further crime and psychological titles reaching international buyers, ITV Studios is using MIPCOM 2026 to reinforce its position in the global market for character-driven mysteries, investigations and thrillers.
Source: ITV Studios
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