Banijay re-jigs Jarowskij Finland leadership - announces new Nelonen/Ruutu series

Virkajärvi is credited notably for Yle’s MS Romantic, C More’s crime series Roba and Elisa Viihde’s upcoming series Forgive (Kaikki Anteeksi). As Head of Jarowskij Finland, she will report to Endemol Shine Finland’s MD Unne Sormunen, whose remit has been extended to cover both Banijay labels’ activities.

At the same time, Jarowskij Finland’s current CEO and executive producer Teea Hyytiä (Shadow Lines, Jill & Joy) will be stepping down late August, but she will remain as executive producer until late November.

Her latest project, the crime series Murder in Hanko written by Eriikka Etholén-Paju (Peacemaker), is based on the character of Ruben Waara, created by author Matti Remes. The ten-part series is directed by the experienced Aleksi Mäkelä (Syke, King of Hearts), with Matti Ristinen (Syke, All the Sins) in the title role. The series will premiere on Nelonen and Ruutu in spring 2024.

Meanwhile Banijay Group’s other Finnish production label Endemol Shine Finland, are also producing a TV show for the commercial channel Nelonen and its streamer Ruutu: the dramedy Supporting Actor (Kurjen kirous), written and directed by Niklas Lindgren (Idiomatic, Bad Women).

The eight-part series stars Kari Ketonen (Lapland Odyssey trilogy) as a talented but difficult actor, who realises he only lands supporting roles due a curse. He starts a process of self-reflection, while trying to find out who was behind the curse.

“This series offers a satirical take on the industry and what success really means,” said Head of Scripted Max Malka, who serves as executive producer on the show together with Unne Sormunen.

Supporting Actor is the second series from Endemol Shine Finland after the Netflix/Yle co-production Dance Brothers.

Both Murder in Hanko and Supporting Actor are distributed globally by Banijay Rights.