CBC Gem will offer the exclusive Canadian premieres of two premium international series next month. All episodes of British drama JOAN (6×30, Snowed-In Productions for ITV and The CW), starring Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The Staircase) as Joan Hannington, the notorious British jewel thief of the 1980s, begin streaming on Friday, October 11. Australian comedy series AUSTIN (8×30, Northern Pictures and Lincoln Pictures in association with Screen Australia and Screen Canberra for ABC) stars Michael Theo (Love on the Spectrum) as a neurodivergent 20-something who claims to be the adult son of a best-selling children’s author (Ben Miller, Bridgerton, Death in Paradise), which may be exactly what the recently cancelled author needs to save his career and his marriage to Ingrid (Sally Phillips, Veep, Bridget Jones’s Diary). All episodes begin streaming Friday, October 18 on CBC Gem.
“Working alongside valued partners such as ITVStudios and All3Media, we look for series featuring memorable characters that audiences in Canada won’t find anywhere else, to offer on CBC Gem,” said Jenna Bourdeau, Senior Director, Acquisitions, CBC. “The personal journey in Joan of a jewel thief in the glamorous era of the 1980s will no doubt steal viewers’ attention, and with Austin, we were excited to see fan-favourite Michael Theo in another lead role, which is so perfect for him. These new series complement Gem’s growing library of best-in-class content from Canada and around the world.”
JOAN begins as a fiery and uncompromising woman in her twenties who is deeply scarred and vulnerable. She is a devoted mother to her six-year-old daughter, Kelly, but is trapped in a disastrous relationship with Gary, a violent criminal. When Gary goes on the run, Joan seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter. Adopting new identities and making new acquaintances along the way, Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit, driven by her desire to care for her daughter and create a secure home for them both. Through her sharp intelligence, charm, and talent for impersonation and performance, the series follows the twists and turns in Joan’s life, the ups and downs, the heartache and the joy that makes this story so compelling.
JOAN was created and written by Anna Symon (The Essex Serpent and Mrs Wilson) and directed by BAFTA award-winner Richard Laxton (Rain Dogs, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, Mrs Wilson). Produced by Snowed-In Productions for ITV (UK) and The CW (USA) with distributor All3Media International.
From the award-winning producers of Spreadsheet (also available on CBC Gem) comes AUSTIN, an original comedy-drama starring British comedy legends Ben Miller, Sally Phillips, and Michael Theo. The show is packed with sharp dialogue, laugh-out-loud moments, and offers a heartwarming, optimistic exploration of family, acceptance, and celebrating each other’s differences.
When beloved children’s author Julian Hartswood (Miller) accidentally sparks a social media scandal, his career – and that of his illustrator wife, Ingrid (Phillips) – seems doomed. But then Austin (Theo), the neurodiverse son Julian never knew he had, unexpectedly shows up. Could embracing this modern, blended family be Julian’s way out of “cancellation”? And will Ingrid forgive him for being such a pompous jerk? One thing’s clear: if Julian thinks Austin will be easy to handle, he’s in for a big surprise. The show is produced by Lincoln Pictures and Northern Pictures for ABC and distributed by ITV Studios.