Production Begins in Toronto on Movie Central and The Movie Network's New Original Comedy Series SENSITIVE SKIN, Starring Kim Cattrall and Don McKellar

-     Additional casting announced including Academy Award^®-nominee Elliott Gould (M*A*S*H, FRIENDS, RAY DONOVAN), Nicolas Wright (White House Down), Gemini Award-winner Colm Feore (THE BORGIAS), Joanna Gleason (Last Vegas), Gemini Award-winner Clé Bennett (FLASHPOINT), Mary Walsh (THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES) and Marc-André Grondin (C.R.A.Z.Y.) -

- TRICON FILMS & TELEVISION announced as International Distributor -

TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2013 /CNW/ - Rhombus Media, Corus Entertainment's Movie Central, and Bell Media's The Movie Network announced today that production is underway on SENSITIVE SKIN, a new series based on the acclaimed BBC program of the same name. Kim Cattrall stars in the bittersweet comedy about 50-somethings and executive produces along with co-star Don McKellar, who directs all six episodes from scripts by Bob Martin. Also announced today are additional cast members including Academy Award^®-nominee Elliott Gould (M*A*S*H, FRIENDS, RAY DONOVAN), Nicolas Wright (White House Down), Gemini Award-winner Colm Feore (THE BORGIAS), Joanna Gleason (Last Vegas), Gemini Award-winner Clé Bennett (FLASHPOINT), Mary Walsh (THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES), and Marc-André Grondin (C.R.A.Z.Y.). SENSITIVE SKIN marks Cattrall's return to television following the conclusion of her wildly successful HBO series SEX IN THE CITY. SENSITIVE SKIN shoots in Toronto for six weeks. TRICON FILMS & TELEVISION will handle international distribution of the series.

"SENSITIVE SKIN is a funny, sad, raw, and beautiful portrait of a woman my age who is literally haunted by doubt and the choices she has made in life," said series lead and Executive Producer Kim Cattrall. "It's a project I've been developing for years and with the help of Don McKellar, Bob Martin, and the Rhombus dream team, it's finally coming to life."

SENSITIVE SKIN is the story of Davina (Kim Cattrall), a woman of a certain age and her long-time husband Al (Don McKellar), who have sold their comfortable family home and moved downtown to an ultra-modern condo, in a transitional neighbourhood, in a conscious effort to change their lives, keep relevant, and begin again. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happens.

Based on the original British version starring Joanna Lumley (ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS), SENSITIVE SKIN stars Golden Globe^® Award-winner and Emmy^® Award-nominee Kim Cattrall (SEX AND THE CITY), Genie and Tony Award^®-winner Don McKellar (Blindness, SLINGS AND ARROWS) as the show's lead characters Davina and Al, respectively. The series also stars Academy Award^®-nominee Elliott Gould (M*A*S*H, FRIENDS, RAY DONOVAN) as Al's opportunistic physician; Nicolas Wright (White House Down) as Davina and Al's neurotic and depressive son Orlando; Gemini Award-winner Colm Feore (THE BORGIAS) as Davina's brother-in-law Roger; Tony Award-winner Joanna Gleason (Last Vegas) as her conservative older sister Veronica; Gemini Award-winner Mary Walsh (THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES) as Sarah, a well-known radio personality; Gemini Award-winner Clé Bennett (FLASHPOINT) as Theodore, the friendly neighbourhood drug dealer; and Jutra Award-winner Marc-André Grondin (C.R.A.Z.Y.) as Greg. This new adaption is written by Bob Martin (MICHAEL: TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, SLINGS AND ARROWS).

SENSITIVE SKIN is produced by Rhombus Media in association with Baby Cow Productions, The Movie Network, and Movie Central. The show is created by Hugo Blick (ROGER & VAN HAVE JUST GOT IN). Niv Fichman (Rhombus Media) and Sari Friedland serve as producers with Kim Cattrall, Don McKellar, Bob Martin, Henry Normal (Baby Cow Productions) and Hugo Blick attached as executive producers. Production Executives for Bell Media are Trish Williams and Kathleen Meek. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine McLeod is Senior Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports. Chris Bell is production executive for Movie Central, Maria Hale is Vice President, Television, Pay TV, Corus Entertainment and Doug Murphy is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Corus Entertainment.

SENSITIVE SKIN will air on The Movie Network in Eastern Canada and Movie Central in Western Canada and is produced in partnership with the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and Rogers Cable Network Fund.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@SensitiveSkinTV
@KimCattrall
@moviecentral
@themovienetwork
@TMN_Publicity
@CorusPR

Facebook:
moviecentral
themovienetwork

About Rhombus
Rhombus Media is an internationally renowned producer of theatrical feature films, TV drama, documentaries and performing arts programmes. Since its inception in 1979, the company has released over 200 productions and has received literally hundreds of awards, including numerous Genies, Geminis, Emmys, Golden Pragues and an Oscar. For television, Rhombus recently produced the critically acclaimed series Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays for CBC. The company also produced Slings & Arrows, an 18-part multi-award winning series broadcast on TMN and Movie Central in Canada, the Sundance Channel in the US and a number of other networks around the world. Also well known for a rich variety of performing arts programmes, the company produced several International Emmy winners including Le Dortoir and Pictures on the Edge. Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired By Bach, a six part multi-disciplinary series aired on BBC, PBS, ZDF, NHK, CBC and numerous other networks around the world, was a notable international success, receiving countless awards including the Prime Time Emmy and the Golden Rose of Montreux. www.rhombusmedia.com

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian scripted series of the 2012/13 season, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced complementary version of the hit international series. CTV is also home to drama series PLAYED, and premiering in the 2013/14 season, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the recently renewed ORPHAN BLACK, CSA-winning CALL ME FITZ, and upcoming dramas BITTEN, SENSITIVE SKIN, 19-2 and the recently ordered KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series such as BRAVE NEW GIRLS, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. So far in 2013, Bell Media has ordered 24 original Canadian series and currently has 74 projects in various stages of development.

About Movie Central
Movie Central is a commercial-free premium pay TV service available in western Canada. Movie Central premieres the best in Hollywood, international and Canadian films across nine 24-hour movie channels, including dedicated high-definition feeds, a Movie Central On Demand service and exclusive HBO content on HBO Canada. Movie Central is also the first window for Showtime content and home to cutting-edge Canadian series. A major force in the Canadian independent film and television production industry, Movie Central, through Script to Screen, a writer-oriented feature script development program funded by Movie Central and delivered by NSI supports Canadian filmmaking. Visit the Movie Central website at www.moviecentral.ca.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

About The Movie Network:
The Movie Network is a pay television service available in eastern Canada delivering premiere access to Hollywood hit movies, new and exclusive HBO content, critically acclaimed Showtime series and first-rate Canadian programming to subscribers. The Movie Network service includes five 24-hour multiplex channels - The Movie Network, HBO Canada, MExcess, MFun! and MFest. All five multiplex channels are simulcast in High Definition and joined by TMN GO, a multi-platform video streaming service; The Movie Network OnDemand, a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) service available in select areas across eastern Canada; and TMN OnLine, an Internet-based content streaming service. The Movie Network is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about The Movie Network is available at www.themovienetwork.ca.

About Tricon Films & Television:
Tricon Films & Television is one of North America's leading producers and distributors, and exclusive output distributor of AMC Networks-owned IFC. With offices in Toronto and Los Angeles, Tricon has quickly emerged as a prominent supplier of award winning factual and scripted programming that continues to be successful with audiences around the world. Tricon's distribution arm features a broad catalogue of high quality, multi-platform content including primetime scripted drama and comedy, kids, lifestyle, factual and documentary series and specials. www.triconfilms.com

SOURCE: Movie Central

please contact:
Allison Barber, Unit Publicist, SENSITIVE SKIN, 416.801.6963 or [email protected]
Jessica Charbonneau, The Movie Network, 416.956.8638 or [email protected]
Owen McCorquodale, Movie Central, 416.479.6068 or [email protected]
Mary Powers, Tricon Films & Television, 416.767.8692 or [email protected]