RTÉ thriller Clean Sweep picked up by BBC and Australia’s SBS

RTÉ thriller series Clean Sweep has been acquired by the BBC and Australia's Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), and will reportedly be aired across both channels soon.

The series, which stars Charlene McKenna and Barry Ward, recently aired on RTÉ One, finishing an action-packed season on Sunday. The series is currently available to stream on the RTÉ Player.

Clean Sweep is a family crime series told from the point-of-view of a former killer (McKenna) who has spent nearly twenty years hiding in plain sight, living a secret life as a wife, mother, and home-maker.

Inspired by a true story, the series is set in the west of Ireland and follows a Garda detective (Ward) as he hunts hunts for a murderer, never suspecting that his wife is actually the guilty party.

In a recent interview with Hot Press, McKenna revealed that the role was a difficult one.

“It was really hard getting inside Shelly’s head,” notes McKenna. “I would say it’s maybe one of the toughest jobs I’ve ever done – I ran the entire emotional gamut. Because there’s the backstory, there’s the double stories going on, the keeping-it-together mom thing… and playing it all at once.”

The BBC has picked up Clean Sweep for BBC Four and streamer BBC iPlayer, while SBS On Demand is streaming the series.

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, said that the show "is a gripping psychological thriller – BBC viewers will be hooked by Shelly, and how she copes with all of the repercussions of her secret life."

Similarly singing the Irish-made show's praises, channel manager at SBS On Demand Haidee Ireland said “SBS audiences have been devouring the fantastic output of Irish crime drama we have seen in recent years and we cannot wait to bring this taut and complex thriller to our drama fans.”

The show is not the first Irish crime thriller to be acquired by the BBC, with the highly-acclaimed RTÉ show North Sea Connection also being picked up for BBC Four in January this year.

Clean Sweep is available to watch on the RTÉ Player.