Go to main content

CBC and BBC Northern Ireland Greenlight New Romantic Comedy Series Committed, Starring Dustin Milligan and Diona Doherty

Series Distributed Globally by FOX

(L-R: Dustin Milligan, Diona Doherty, Ian McElhinney, Dan Gordon, Muki Zubis, Seamus O’Hara, Patrick Buchanan, Chris McCurry, Georgie Murphy, Athena Karkanis)

CBC and BBC Northern Ireland today announced the greenlight of new original comedy series Committed (10x30), starring Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek, Hot Frosty) and Diona Doherty (Derry Girls, Blue Lights). The series follows Canadian Peter Hooley (Milligan), a recently divorced accountant, who falls head over heels for Northern Ireland woman Julie Johnston (Doherty) after a whirlwind weekend in Toronto, and crosses the Atlantic to declare his love—only to discover he's landed in an old-fashioned and eccentric rural Northern Ireland village that's nothing like he imagined. Produced by Cameron Pictures and Fabel Productions, filming is currently underway in County Down, Northern Ireland, with additional scenes shooting in Hamilton, Ontario. The series is slated to premiere on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service in winter 2027 and is expected to air on BBC Northern Ireland around the same time. 

Joining Milligan and Doherty are Ian McElhinney (Derry Girls, Game of Thrones), Dan Gordon (Blue Lights, Bloodlands)Muki Zubis (This is Going to Hurt), Seamus O’Hara (House of Guinness, Say Nothing), Patrick Buchanan (Blue Lights, Warrior), Chris McCurry (Belfast, Obituary), Athena Karkanis (Manifest, The Handmaid’s Tale) and Georgie Murphy (Stumble, GEN V).

"Committed offers a classic fish-out-of-water comedy intertwined with a unique love story that follows the all too human aftermath of a grand romantic gesture, rather than the build-up to it,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Programming, CBC.  “We know the show will connect with audiences in Canada and around the world thanks to its heart and authenticity, and are excited to be partnering with BBC Northern Ireland alongside the outstanding teams at Cameron Pictures and Fabel Productions.”

“Audiences are going to fall in love with this bold new comedy series. We’ve a brilliant cast that viewers will be familiar with on both sides of the Atlantic – we’re delighted to welcome Dustin to these shores starring alongside our own Diona Doherty,” said Jason Butler, BBC Northern Ireland Commissioning Editor. “And it’s fantastic for BBC Northern Ireland to link up with CBC on this innovative project helping to further develop and support the creative industry here and to bring a flavour of our Northern Ireland humour to comedy fans further afield.”

Committed brings together so many of the elements we value in great television: sharp writing, memorable characters and a story that bridges cultures in a genuinely entertaining way,” said Amy Cameron, Co-Founder/Executive Producer, Cameron Pictures Inc. “Reuniting with CBC on a series of this scope and collaborating closely with Fabel Productions to bring this cross-Atlantic story to life, has been an energizing creative experience. This is a series rooted in place and perspective, yet universally relatable, and we’re excited for audiences to fall in love with these characters as much as we have.”

“To make a comedy from this part of this Island with all its quirks, huge hearts and ugly-beautiful glory is a career highlight. We’re so excited to share our abrasive but loveable, odd folk and their daft wee community with the world,” said Keith Martin, Executive Producer, Fabel Productions. “Wait until you see our amazingly talented Canadian and beloved homegrown cast. A dream! Thank you to all of our partners for making the leap in the name of love to a place not often seen or celebrated. High hopes, comedy with consequences and lots of animals to follow."

Committed exemplifies the kind of distinctive, character-driven storytelling that travels, resonating across borders and cultures,” said Prentiss Fraser, President of FOX Entertainment Global. “We’re proud to partner with CBC and BBC Northern Ireland, alongside the prolific team at Cameron Pictures, whose work consistently delivers both creatively and commercially. With its unique voice and a standout cast led by Dustin Milligan, Committed is well positioned to connect with audiences around the world.”

Committed is a romantic comedy about what happens in a relationship after the grand gesture, when real life barges in. At its core, the series explores what it means to step outside your comfort zone—and how people who are very different from you can make life far more interesting than you planned. 

A CBC original series, Committed is produced in association with BBC Northern Ireland by Cameron Pictures Inc. and Fabel Productions Ltd. under the UK/Canada Co-Production Treaty, and global distribution is handled by FOX. The series was co-created by Keith Martin, Gerry Dee and Tim Loane, who is showrunner, and developed under the Northern Ireland Screen/Canada Media Fund Co-Development Initiative for Audiovisual Projects.

Executive producers are Amy Cameron, Tassie Cameron and Alex Patrick for Cameron Pictures; Keith Martin for Fabel Productions; Tim Loane and Gerry Dee; Jessie Gabe; and Molly McGlynn, who also directs the pilot and four episodes. Peter Huang directs five episodes. Co-executive producers are Dustin Milligan, Karen Tsang, Caledonia Brown and Shebli Zarghami. Chris Martin is producer. Writers include Tim Loane, Jessie Gabe and Shebli Zarghami, with supervising producer Kurt Smeaton and consulting producer Linsey Stewart.

For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Programming; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Sandra Picheca is Director, Current Production, Comedy; and Mélanie Lê Phan is Executive in Charge of Current Production. For BBC Northern Ireland, Eddie Doyle is Head of Content Commissioning and Jason Butler is Commissioning Editor.

Additional financing was provided by the Canada Media Fund and Northern Ireland Screen. 

- 30 -

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

About Cameron Pictures

Cameron Pictures Inc. is an independent Canadian television production company with a focus on scripted content. Established in 2016 and based in Toronto, Cameron Pictures is helmed by sisters Amy Cameron, a television executive, writer, and producer, and Tassie Cameron, an award-winning showrunner and executive producer. The company is managed by the Camerons along with executive producer Alex Patrick, who provides expertise in strategy and business & legal affairs. Among Cameron Pictures’ acclaimed series is the hit show Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent for Rogers and in association with Universal International Studios. Season three premiered on Citytv in March 2026, drawing an impressive 20% increase in viewership from the previous season. The series airs on The CW in the US. Previous productions include the award-winning Mary Kills People (Global/Lifetime); Little Dog (CBC); and Pretty Hard Cases (CBC/NBCU). Their latest project is a half-hour comedy Committed for CBC and BBC Northern Ireland. 

About FABEL Productions

FABEL Productions is the Belfast based scripted indie who believe in creating and producing scripted content in Northern Ireland. Founded by television executive, producer and writer Keith Martin in 2022, FABEL Productions is dedicated to amplifying authentic portrayal and championing diversity in all its forms. We put a sense of humour at the centre of everything we do. We believe in empowering specificity, decency, big heartedness and creative risk taking, and in entertaining and surprising audiences in the UK, Ireland and all over the world.

Working across television, radio and digital, FABEL Productions produced its first BBC Drama commission for Helpless (BBC Northern Ireland) in 2025 and the first BBC Radio 4 sitcom developed and made in Northern Ireland in 2024. Other credits include Safe Space and John Meager: The Divil’s Own, and upcoming stand-up special Emer Maguire: Patron Saint of Bad Luck (all for BBC Radio 4). Committed for CBC and BBC Northern Ireland is the company’s  first international co-production series. Visit fabelproductions.com.

About FOX Entertainment Global

FOX Entertainment Global is FOX Entertainment’s centralized content sales division, providing the worldwide multi-platform marketplace with exclusive access to its diverse, rapidly expanding production pipeline and library of owned original programming and co-production partnerships.  A central component of FOX Entertainment’s long-term growth strategy is to fortify its globally recognized, world-class brand and owned distribution platforms spanning broadcast and streaming with FOX Entertainment Global’s singular focus on broadly distributing the company’s full portfolio of owned intellectual property across all genres of scripted, unscripted and animated programming, including both film and television titles.

 

 

Related content

Committed

Discover

2 days ago

New to CBC Gem in May 2026

Highlights of programs new to CBC Gem this May include the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, hosted by Andrew Phung on May 31; the Asian Heritage Month Collection featuring documentary series Our Ocean Table (May 1) with journalist Hannah Sung and marine biologist and filmmaker Sonya Lee; and new CBC Kids original series Tralala (May 19), following the musical adventures of a seven-year-old frog and her dad. 
April 14th at 5:55

CBC Launches New Spring/Summer 2026 Podcast Slate

CBC, the #1 Canadian podcaster, is launching a new spring/summer slate of original podcasts, including in-depth investigations, candid personal revelations, and lighthearted comedy.
April 7th at 10:55

Reverie: The Indigenous Music Residency Returns in 2026

CBC and the SOCAN Foundation are proud to announce the return of Reverie: The Indigenous Music Residency, an immersive month‑long creative program supporting emerging First Nations, Inuit, and Métis music creators from across Canada. 
April 2nd at 12:00

CBC renews unscripted series The Assembly for a second season

On World Autism Awareness Day, CBC is announcing the renewal of the groundbreaking unscripted series The Assembly for a second season, featuring an expanded cast of more than 30 neurodivergent and autistic adults interviewing celebrities.
March 25th at 15:00

New to CBC Gem in April 2026

Highlights of programs new to CBC Gem this April include CBC’s great Canadian book debate, Canada Reads, returning for its 25th edition from April 13 through April 16; new two-part CBC original POV documentary Speechless (April 14); and new CBC original series Must Love Dogs (April 20, pictured).