The Paradise for which writer Matti Laine was nominated for the 2020 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize-Best Nordic Screenplay - is enjoying a good run on public broadcaster Yle. 

The first episode of the Finnish series was watched by nearly 900,000 people online and linear and after three weeks most linear viewers have moved to Yle’s web platform Areena, where total ratings remaining strong.

The first of eight episodes launched on February 9, was watched by 694,000 people on Yle1, plus 171,367 on Yle Areena, and nearly two million online viewers watched the full series the first week.

Episode 2 was followed by nearly 700,000 combined online/digital viewers, a level that remains stable after three weeks. “We are amazed at how strong the series kick started and after three weeks, there is almost no drop at all as viewers have progressively moved from linear TV to Areena,” said Suvi Mansnerus, Yle Drama, executive producer, international partnerships. Petri Jauhiainen, head of publishing at Yle TV and Yle Areena added that “the audience comprises both men and women [55% women/45% men], and younger age groups are also becoming more and more interested in the series."

Yle Head of Drama Jarmo Lampela underlined the creative collaboration between Finland and Spain as one of the key elements for the success. “The plot of The Paradise that is set under the grey and cloudy sky in Oulu and in the sun-soaked Fuengirola, as well as the characters of the series, have been warmly welcomed. The differences and similarities between the two cultures have charmed the viewers and made them give direct feedback much more than normal. The whole team is very happy about the success of the new series,” he said.

Finnish viewers were also hooked by the acting from Fran Perea and Riitta Havukainen. “People come to thank her [Havukainen] in the streets when they see her, which is not the way Finns usually react!” told Mansnerus to nordicfilmandtvnews.com.

The Paradise directed by Marja Pyykkö (Black Widows, Hooked) was produced by MRP Matila Röhr Productions and created in close collaboration with Spanish co-producer Mediapro. The leading Spanish group’s distribution arm Mediapro Studios is handling global sales.

The series supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond is set to premiere in March in Iceland (RÚV), and in Denmark (DR), Sweden (SVT), Norway (NRK) and Spain (Orange TV).

Launched under the title Kosta in Spain, the series will have its Spanish premiere at the Malaga Film Festival (March 13-22).

Read the interview with writer Matti Laine and director Marja Pyykkö: CLICK HERE