BBC1 unveils five new shows as part of 2012 drama push

BBC1 has confirmed a major drama push for 2012, unveiling five new drama commissions, including the historical adaptation War of the Roses and Room on the Broom, a follow up to The Gruffalo.

BBC1 has also greenlit a new adaptation of Wilkie Collins’s The Moonstone, six part series Truckers and an adaptation of James Herbert’s ghost story The Secret of Crickley Hall.

The new BBC1 dramas were announced by BBC controller of drama Ben Stephenson at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch today. He said the drama department’s spotlight was very much on BBC1 this year, after focusing heavily on BBC2 last year.

“It is a huge year for BBC1 drama,” said Stephenson. “We are launching new 24 titles this year.” Other upcoming, previously announced dramas include an adaptation of Sebastian Faulks’ best selling book Birdsong as well as Call the Midwife, Ripper Street, Bert and Dickie and William Boyd adaptation Restless.

War of the Roses is a serial based on Philippa Gregory’s best selling historical novels, adapted by Emma Frost and made by Company Pictures. It will be set against the backdrop of the War of the Roses when two dynasties, the Yorks and the Lancasters, fought through several generations for the right to rule England. It is told from the perspective of the women involved.

Room on the Broom, from the makers of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, is based on Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s best selling children’s book. Made by Magic Light Pictures, the 1x30-min animation will air this Christmas.

The Moonstone, a 3x60-min drama for Christmas 2012 is written by Ed Whitmore and made by BBC Drama Production. It adapts Wilkie Collins’s adventure yarn and love story about the theft of an Indian jewel by a British army officer at the storming of a Maharajah’s palace.

Truckers is written by William Ivory and made by Company Pictures. The 6x60-min series is billed as a ‘warm, funny, bitter-sweet character driven show about getting by in difficult times.’ As its title suggest, it is based around drivers who work for a haulage company.

The Secret of Crickley Hall is a 3x60-min drama adapted and directed by Joe Ahearne from James Herbert’s ghost story. It is made by BBC Drama Production North.

Stephenson also announced that Red Planet Pictures’ drama Death In Paradise has been recommissioned for a 8x60-min run.

Sir Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid, Sarah Lancashire, Nicola Walker and Ronni Ancona are also to star in Sally Wainwright’s new series Antony and Cleopatra.

Meanwhile, Matthew Macfadyen has been cast in the lead role of previously announced drama Ripper Street, set in the time of Jack the Ripper.

Hayley Atwell has also been cast in the lead role of the forthcoming adaptation of William Boyd’s acclaimed spy thriller Restless.

And Sean Bean, Anna Maxwell Martin and Stephen Graham have been cast in a new series of Jimmy McGovern’s drama Accused.

Stepheson said BBC1 dramas were characterised by “big characters, big emotions and big stories.”

All five of the new dramas were commissioned with BBC1 controller Danny Cohen.