Screen Ireland and Screen Flanders have teamed up to fund the drama, which is set and filmed in both Ireland and Belgium. The show is produced by Irish production company Saffron Moon and co-produced by leading Belgian producer Potemkino and Canada's Facet 4.
Dividing its drama between small town Clare and the Belgian city of Antwerp, Hidden Secrets' official synopsis reads "A routine raid sees the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) expose a link between a wealthy Irish family, a stash of rough diamonds and a series of deadly bombings in Belgium. But nothing is as it seems, as by-the-book Belgian Chief Inspector Christian De Jong and CAB Detective Emer Berry are thrown together in a heart-pounding race to halt a further horrifying terror attack in Antwerp."
The series is written by Peter McKenna and Morna Regan, with directing duties divided between Ireland's Emmy-nominated Thaddeus O'Sullivan and Belgium's Kadir Balci.
The cast features a mix of Irish and Belgian acting talent, including Angeline Ball, Wouter Hendrickx, Simone Kirby, Peter Coonan, Cathy Belton, Michael Ironside, Charlie Carrick and Sophie Jo Wasson.
Following an eight-week shoot in Belgium, the production is currently filming in Shannon. Several scenes are scheduled to be shot in Limerick City later this month, at various locations in the city centre and at a house on the North Circular Road.
RTÉ's Head of Comedy & Drama, Shane Murphy, said "We're very happy to be partnering with Saffron Moon and Acorn TV again to commission Hidden Assets. To have Peter McKenna and Morna Regan on board as writers, Thaddeus O'Sullivan directing and cast at the level of Angeline Ball, Simone Kirby, Michael Ironside and Peter Coonan bodes extremely well for the series." On the move to Ireland, he said "We now find ourselves in the happy position of having our wonderful cast and crew shooting the remainder of the series in Clare and Limerick. We’re particularly pleased to shine a light on Limerick, which is undeservedly underrepresented in the world of scripted shows."
The arrival of the show in Limerick has been greeted by Paul C. Ryan, Regional Film Manager at Film in Limerick, who said "We’re delighted to have Saffron Moon choose the Mid-West to film their new series Hidden Assets. The production is one of several that are currently filming in the region and it’s fantastic to see the film & TV sector grow locally, providing jobs on set and economic benefit for local business. Since the establishment of Troy Studios, the local authorities in the region have been working to position the Mid-West as an attractive destination for location and well as studio filming. We are starting to see the results of this focus and we continue to work to make the region the most film-friendly in Ireland."
The show's Irish producer, Siobhan Bourke, is excited to see the production begin its Irish phase. She said "It’s great to bring the Hidden Assets production to Limerick and Clare and to have the support of the local councils and Film in Limerick to make it all a reality. We have assembled a wonderful crew and cast and can’t wait to share this series with audiences later in the year. Filming this series in the Mid-West has brought a fresh dimension to the project – we are used to seeing most shows filmed in Dublin – and to have this filmed and set in Clare and Limerick City is really exciting. The production is going really well, and we are delighted with the response and welcome we have received in the region."
In Ireland the series will broadcast on RTÉ later this year and will be available to stream on the RTÉ Player. The show is also set to air in the US and Canada in 2022, on Acorn TV and Super Channel respectively.
