Foxtel will tackle the euthanasia debate in a provocative new drama series, The End

FOXTEL will press the hot button issue of euthanasia, dying with dignity and how Australians deal with death in a provocative new drama commission announced today.

The End will star The Missing and Mr Selfridge star, Frances O’Connor and a host of acting luminaries including Robin Niven, John Walters and Noni Hazlehurst in the 10-part series set to begin filming next month.

The co-production between Foxtel, Sky UK and See-Saw Films is the latest headlining premium TV production set to thrill local and international audiences on a newly-dedicated channel, Fox Showcase.

Dame Harriet Walter, who played Clementine Churchill in the wildly popular royal retelling, The Crown, will also join the cast of The End, as the passionate right to die mother of O’Connor’s character, a palliative care doctor opposed to euthanasia.

Foxtel’s head of drama, Penny Win said: “The End will present a universal story that affects us all, with [creator] Sam Strauss’ beautiful storytelling being brought to life by an exceptionally talented cast and crew.”

Australian-raised O’Connor said it was “thrilling to be returning home to be part of such an original series and to be playing a character as complex, interesting and conflicted as Dr Kate Brennan.”

It begins filming, with funding support from the Queensland Government and Screen Queensland, next month.

The new commission was confirmed at a celebration of Foxtel’s upcoming drama slate, with cast from Fighting Season, Secret City and Mr Inbetween descending on Sydney’s Dendy Quays theatre.

Patrick Delany, Foxtel’s chief executive said the new Fox Showcase platform was “raising the bar even higher” and would be a destination for premium drama content for local viewers.

Fox Showcase will be the exclusive home for FX Originals, including American Horror Story, Mayans M.C, Pose and Better Things.

Deals with HBO will also see its biggest titles, including Big Little Lies, Westworld and Game Of Thrones available exclusively on the channel and On Demand streaming service.

Australian drama favourite Wentworth will return for season 7 in 2019, as well as the hotly-anticipated new four-part thriller, Lambs of God which stars The Handmaid’s Tale Ann Dowd, Sigrid Thorton, Essie Davis and Damon Herriman.

WHAT TO WATCH ON FOX SHOWCASE:

* Mr Inbetween, 8.30pm, Monday, October 1 stars Brooke Satchwell, Scott Ryan

* Trust, October 7, stars Donald Sutherland, Hilary Swank

* Fighting Season, October 7, stars Jay Ryan, Ewen Leslie, Kate Mulvaney

* What We Do In The Shadows, comedy co-created by Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement, in 2019

* Game Of Thrones, final season will screen and stream exclusively on Fox Showcase

* Lambs Of God, to air 2019, stars Ann Dowd, Sigrid Thornton, Essie Davis

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