*Ennis actress Simone Kirby starred in the drama.

CRIME DRAMA, Hidden Assets which was filmed in Lahinch and Ennis has been picked up by the BBC.

A ratings hit for RTÉ, the six-episode drama concluded in December with 458,000 viewers tuning in for the finale. An audience of 482,000 watched the show each Sunday with over half a million views recorded on the RTÉ Player.

Written by Peter McKenna and Morna Regan, McKenna is also known for his work with Kin and Red Rock, the crime drama stars Angeline Ball as CAB Detective Emer Berry and Wouter Hendrickx as Belgian Chief Inspector Christian De Jong. The pair are thrown together in a heart-pounding race to halt a horrifying terror attack in Antwerp. The story moves between the Clare settings of Lahinch and Ennis, their surrounding areas, parts of Limerick City and the Belgian capital.

Ennis actress Simone Kirby plays a key role in the show as rich businesswoman, Bibi Melnick. “I don’t get to wear very expensive costumes very often so I was loving it and I did come back with a little bit of them but that was all above board! The house my character lives in is this big, beautiful house so that was nice after being in my own four walls for a year during the pandemic,” she said of her involvement.

Producer, Siobhán Bourke noted that the strong female leads of Angeline and Simone were particularly liked by audiences.

Given the success of Hidden Assets in Ireland, BBC bosses wasted no time in snapping up the show which will air on BBC4. Head of programme acquisitions with BBC, Sue Deeks described it as “an easy to travel, easy to binge drama which can go anywhere”. She added, “Hidden Assets is a satisfying blend of crime drama, political conspiracy and thriller”.

Drama development executive with RTÉ, Sam Atwell was confident the show would do well internationally. “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”.

Confirmation of a second series has yet to be issued.