Nellie Andreeva

After months of deal-making, BBC America today officially announced that it has given a 10-episode order to Copper, its first original scripted drama series. The show hails from Canadian-based Cineflix Studios, which has been ramping up scripted development under former AMC executive Christina Wayne. Copper, which centers on a young Irish cop operating in the immigrant communities of 19th century New York, was co-created by Tom Fontana and Will Rokos (Monster’s Ball). Fontana, Rokos, Barry Levinson and Wayne are executive producing. Copper will start production in the fall in Toronto for Summer 2012 premiere. ”I really didn’t want our first series to be the London cop who gets transferred to Las Vegas,” BBC America’s general manager Perry Simon quipped in announcing the series at TCA. The Copper news comes on the heels of BBC America’s Monday announcement of its first two unscripted series, Would You Rather With Graham Norton and Hard Drive With Richard Hammond.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.