ITV’s Victoria picked up overseas

Broadcasters across Europe and Australasia have picked up historical drama Victoria from ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVSGE), taking the ratings hit into a total of more than 150 territories. The series, from ITV-owned Poldark indie Mammoth Screen, follows the life of the British monarch who leaves childhood behind when she ascends the throne at the age of 18.

Following news of a recent second-season commission from ITV, the UK commercial broadcaster’s distribution arm has sold the show to Sky in Germany, UTV in Ireland, VRT in Belgium and Telefonica’s Spanish pay TV platform Movistar+ for channel #0.

Elsewhere the series has been picked up by Greek pay TV company OTE TV, TVP in Poland, RTVS of Slovakia, ERR in Estonia, TVNZ in New Zealand and ABC in Australia.

ITV Choice in Africa has already signed up for the second season.

“It is testament to the quality of the writing, casting and production values on Victoria that it is selling so well all over the world,” said Ruth Berry, MD of ITVSGE.

“This is a rich subject so brilliantly scripted by Daisy Godwin, and with so much more story to tell. We’re delighted Victoria has already been commissioned for a second series.”

ITV has said the series was its top-rated drama of the year so far, averaging 7.7 million viewers and a 29.7% share of viewing based on consolidated overnights.

It is a coproduction with PBS’s Masterpiece in the US, which will premiere the show’s first run from January 15 in the coveted Downton Abbey slot. Novelist Goodwin is again penning the second series, which stars Jenna Coleman as the young Queen alongside Tom Hughes as Prince Albert. The new deals follow a range of pre-sales announced at MipTV in April.