MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Belgium has announced that critically acclaimed prison drama Wentworth has been commissioned by commercial broadcaster Vier (Flanders) for a local Flemish language adaptation (W/T: Gent-West). Co-produced by FremantleMedia Belgium and Marmalade Productions, the drama will consist of 10 episodes and launch on the channel in 2018. Prior to the broadcast on the free-to-air channel Vier, the drama will be shown on Telenet’s paid cable channels Play and Play More.

The large scale local version of Wentworth began production earlier this month on a 2,000 square meter custom-built set. The Flemish language version is the latest addition to adaptations already produced in the Netherlands (Celblok H) and Germany (Block B - Unter Arrest), bringing the total number of international adaptations to three.

Set in a female prison in Ghent, the drama boasts the same legendary characters as the Australian original and action packed stories of survival as the inmates are thrown together to tackle life behind bars. Filled with heartbreak, humour and divided loyalties – it promises high stakes and edge of your seat viewing as the characters attempt to survive on the inside.

FremantleMedia Belgium MD Stefan De Keyser said, “Wentworth is an explosive drama filled with twists and emotion. Its suspenseful contemporary storylines and powerful female cast are sure to captivate Flemish audiences and we hope that Vier’s commission will build on the worldwide success of this outstanding scripted property.”

The Australian version of Wentworth has screened in 141 countries worldwide and consistently proves to be a ratings success. The latest fourth season launch in Australia on SoHo was an impressive 33% increase on 2015’s premiere. In the UK, the Channel 5 season four premieres outperformed the broadcaster average across all key demographics.