Sky secures rights to Kiefer Sutherland’s new drama, TOUCH

Sky today (Thursday 12 January, 2012) announced a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution to become the exclusive UK home of Kiefer Sutherland’s highly anticipated new drama TOUCH, from Heroes’ creator TIM KRING. TOUCH has already been given a series order of 13 episodes on the US network, Fox, home to Sutherland’s previous series 24. The agreement was brokered by Sarah Wright, Controller of Acquisitions, Entertainment, Sky, and Steve Cornish, SVP and Managing Director, 20th Century Fox Television Distribution.

At the centre of TOUCH is Martin Bohm (Sutherland), a widower and single father, haunted by an inability to connect to his mute 11-year-old son, Jake, played by David Mazouz (Criminal Minds). Everything changes when Martin discovers that Jake possesses the gift of staggering genius – the ability to see things that no one else can in the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated events. Jake is indeed communicating, but it’s not with words, it’s with numbers. Now, it’s up to Martin to decipher the meaning and connect the numbers to the cast of characters whose lives they affect.

TOUCH co-stars veteran Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon)as a professor and expert on gifted children who works alongside Martin in deciphering the meaning of Jake’s visions; and British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw (JJ Abrams’ Undercovers) as a social worker who works with Martin as they learn that Jake can see things and patterns that connect unrelated events. The series marks Tim Kring’s first television series following his Emmy-nomination for the sci-fi drama Heroes, which ended in 2010.

Stuart Murphy, Director, Sky 1 HD said: ““It’s great to have Kiefer back on Sky 1 HD - it feels like his natural home after the phenomenal success of 24.  As the face and force behind this new series, we’re confident it will resonate with our customers. TOUCH is right up there in terms of creative ambition and really delivers on our promise of new, unmissable and exclusive content.”

Wright commented: “Emotionally compelling and highly charged, TOUCH is a brilliant new addition to Sky1 HD’s slate of hit dramas including Terra Nova, Spartacus and Hawaii Five-O.”

Sutherland added:  “It's great for TOUCH to have found a home on Sky.   Sky was always supportive of 24 and built some truly innovative promotions for the show.  I'm thrilled that UK audiences will get to see the show so soon after the US launch.”

TOUCH is produced by Chernin Entertainment, in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television. Kring penned the pilot and will executive produce alongside Sutherland, Francis Lawrence, Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope, Suzan Bymel and Carol Barbee. Lawrence (Water for Elephants), directed the pilot.

TOUCH will launch on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1 this Spring.

Notes to editor

For further information please contact

Susan Collins – Publicity Manager, Sky 1 HD
T: +44 (0) 20 7032 4243

M:+44 (0)7736 026 074

susan.collins@bskyb.com

Louise Snell– Publicist, Sky 1 HD

louise.snell@bskyb.com