No Offence

A police series based in Manchester from the writer of ‘Shameless’. On channel 4. Has a women as the lead role, and other female characters as well as males.

Genres: Drama, Police procedural, Dark Comedy

The first episode launched with 2.5 million viewers.

Mark Scheme notes:

• the importance of targeting an audience beyond the national evident in Channel 4’s investment in online company TRX (The Rights Exchange) which aims to facilitate the sale of programmes abroad
• No Offence is produced by AbbotVision, the independent producer of Shameless – which was successfully remade in the US– suggesting that the appeal to an international audience is a deliberate strategy
• No Offence represents British national culture to a British audience – but this identity is also used as a selling point internationally through the appeal of difference
• The series has a social realist aesthetic which is a recognizable
  national style but is also popular in Europe (evidenced in the
  popularity of social realist films in Europe)
• No Offence was broadcast on France2 the public service broadcaster, to very high viewing figures; the perceived weakness of French broadcast TV provides opportunities for export.
• The series’ focus on the detective narrative and crime drama is familiar and understood globally, the representation of the independent, female detective has proven popularity.