John Farrar’s nascent label Homecoming Studios has landed its debut commission, partnering with Soho Studios for a Hearst Networks doc about the audacious 1990 Bank of England robbery.

Two-part Crime+Investigation doc Heist: Robbing the Bank of Englandfollows author and broadcaster Marcel Theroux across the world to tell the story of the infamous event 35 years ago, which saw the theft of £292m.

The story spans several continents across three decades, and Theroux sets out to find the answers to the many unanswered questions around the robbery.

All the key protagonists of the story, on both sides of the Atlantic and both sides of the law will feature in the series.

Heist: Robbing the Bank of England was commissioned by Hearst Networks’ Dan Korn, vice president of programming, and Diana Carter, commissioning editor and head of talent. Soho and Homecoming produce in association with ad-funded programming specialists Krempelwood.

Ian Lamarra will exec produce for Soho Studios alongside Farrar for Homecoming Studios, Korn and Carter for Hearst, Blair Krempel and Mark Wood for Krempelwood, series director Sam Miller and BossaNova’s Paul Heaney for international versions. Theroux authored the doc.

Korn promised that the doc will “lift the lid” on the heist and try to answer the question of where all the money went.

Lamarra said: “As the appeal of true crime grows beyond gruesome killing into true con and true caper, this forensic first-hand account of one of the world’s biggest heists, that took place in the UK, is breathtaking viewing. Marcel Theroux once again proves he’s one of TV’s foremost and fearless storytellers.”

Theroux said: “The City Bonds robbery was not just one of the biggest thefts in history, it’s one of the strangest unsolved crimes I’ve ever encountered. It started as an apparent mugging then quickly escalated into a vast global conspiracy involving the IRA, Colombian narco-terrorists and the mafia. Lives were lost along the way, and its ringleader was never brought to justice. But strangest of all, to this day, the police seem unsure whether the man behind it was a Mr Big, or a Mr Bean.”

Homecoming Studios

Heist: Robbing the Bank of England is the first project to emerge from Farrar’s fledgling indie Homecoming Studios. Farrar left his role as chief creative officer at Future Studios last year to set it up. The Leeds-headquartered indie is focusing on making long- and shourt-form content.

Soho and Farrar previously teamed up when he was at Future, co-producing fellow true-crime doc The Playboy Bunny Murder for ITVX, also fronted by Theroux.

Farrar said: “This is the unbelievable true story of the biggest heist you’ve never heard of. This commission embodies my vision for Homecoming – combining forensic and cinematic storytelling with the very best on and off-screen talent.

“After years of development, we were able to secure unprecedented access to both law enforcement and criminals at the heart of this mystery. I am beyond thrilled that this marks Homecoming’s first commission.”

Crime series “Sherlock & Daughter” has reported a strong streaming debut last week on Max, reaching the number four spot on its in-app top 10, while also scoring season-best ratings on its U.S. network home, the CW.

A success critically and in terms of ratings in both the U.S. and Australia, where it airs on SBS, “Sherlock & Daughter” has received a nomination for a Golden Nymph Award for best global fiction series at the upcoming Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

Marcel Theroux is fronting a true crime documentary on the story of Marius Gustavson who removed people’s body parts when they were alive.

Comedian Dara Ó Briain is fronting a new adventure show for Channel 5 in a 2 x 60’ series co-produced by BBC Studios Science Unit and Krempelwood – Volcano with Dara Ó Briain (w/t).

The two-part series, Ó Briain heads to Italy to explore the immense power of its most active volcanoes including Stromboli, whose constant eruptions have earned its nickname ‘Lighthouse of the Mediterranean’. Mount Etna, where volcanic soils produce some of the best wines in the world. And Vesuvius, where a devastating eruption thousands of years ago, buried a city. “With stunning visuals, compelling stories, and Dara’s trademark wit, this series uncovers the deadly force of volcanoes and their lasting impact on our planet.”

Warner Bros. Discovery has ordered original crime thriller series Sherlock & Daughter, created, written and exec produced by Northern Ireland’s Brendan Foley (Cold Courage, The Man Who Died)  it stars David Thewlis (Fargo, Landscapers, The Artful Dodger) as the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes. It will air on streaming service discovery+ later this year.

Following the success of last year’s Channel 5 series Wonders of the Moon with Dara Ó Briain, he is set to explore space once again, this time focusing on the Moon’s fiery cousin, the Sun, in a new 2 x 60’ series co-produced by BBC Studios Science Unit and Krempelwood – Wonders of the Sun with Dara Ó Briain.

A+E Networks EMEA has commissioned Avalon to produce a 2×60 special for Crime+Investigation: Murders at Little Bridge Farm. Co-produced by Krempelwood, the series tells the story of Mark Brown, and the double life that the self-proclaimed “psychopath with a conscience” led. A family man by day and sadistic killer by night, convicted, in December 2022, of murdering Alex Morgan, 34, and Leah Ware, 32.