RTÉ’s Hidden Assets a clear cut hit for audiences
Over half a million streams on RTÉ Player, with 482,000 viewers on RTÉ One to date
RTÉ’s latest crime drama Hidden Assets wrapped on Sunday night with a thrilling final episode which saw Angeline Ball and her CAB team finally crack the case, and avert a terrorist bomb in central Antwerp, as Simone Kirby’s character Bibi came to the realisation that diamonds aren’t forever…
The series has been watched by 482,000 so far (consolidated average to date available for eps 1 to 5) with over half a million (540,000) watching on RTÉ Player. Last night’s final episode has been watched by 458,000 (Live plus Vosdal plus catch-up to date) and will continue to grow across the week as viewers catch up.
Commissioned by RTÉ and Acorn TV in association with Screen Ireland and Screen Flanders, Hidden Assets was produced by Irish production company Saffron Moon and co-produced by leading Belgian producer Potemkino & Canada’s Facet 4. Filmed in Antwerp and Co Clare, Hidden Assets also starred Cathy Belton, Peter Coonan, Michael Ironside, and Belgian actors Wouter Hendrickx and Vincent Thys. It was directed by Emmy-nominated Thaddeus O’Sullivan and leading Belgian director Kadir Ferati Balci and was written by Peter McKenna and Morna Regan who was recently named on the BBC New Talent Hotlist. Hidden Assets was produced by Siobhán Bourke and Kathryn Lennon and Anna-Sue Greenberg.
Sam Atwell, drama development executive at RTÉ said: ‘RTÉ is proud to be involved in such a high-rating, powerful international drama working with great talent in Ireland and overseas. It was a fantastic opportunity to work together with Acorn TV, Screen Ireland and Screen Flanders on a show that has thrilled Irish audiences and we are confident it will do the same on the international market. A huge congratulations on a brilliant season to the wonderful producers, Saffron Moon, Potemkino and Facet 4 Media, the first-class directors, cast, crew and writers who worked with unprecedented passion coordinating such a large-scale production with offices and locations spread across the world. We look forward to more successful partnerships creating this kind of adrenaline fuelled drama.’
Producer Siobhán Bourke said: ‘Saffron Moon is thrilled with the audiences for Hidden Assets who have avidly followed our great cast over the six episodes. Audiences particularly liked the strong female leads and really enjoyed Peter McKenna and Morna Regan’s gripping writing and ‘edge of your seat’ drama. Saffron Moon would like to thank all our cast and crew In Belgium, Canada and Ireland for their fabulous work and acknowledge the major contribution of our directors Thaddeus O’Sullivan and Kadir Ferati Balci. Making a show in Covid times is extremely challenging and Saffron Moon and our partners Facet 4 Media and Potemkino are indebted to the team for delivering Hidden Assets with flair. We’d also like to express our appreciation for the stalwart support of our Irish funders (RTÉ and Screen Ireland), together with our international partners.’
Fans of quality local Irish drama won’t have long to wait for their next fix, as Smother returns to RTÉ screens on Sunday 9 January at 9.30pm. Still picking up the pieces after the death of Denis and the cover up that followed, Val Ahern’s world is rocked once again when a stranger turns up on her doorstep. What other family secrets has Val buried along the way as she strives to protect the family name? Smother stars Dervla Kirwan, Seána Kerslake, Gemma Leah Devereux, Niamh Walsh, Justine Mitchell and Dean Fagan.
Watch the full series of Hidden Assets now on RTÉ Player, along with lots more great drama like Season 1 of Smother and the recent hit crime drama, Kin.