Studiocanal Television,  Strong Film and TV and Unladylike Productions are developing a TV series based on Robin Stevens’ book series Murder Most Unladylike.

Studiocanal Kids and Family will handle worldwide merchandising and licensing

The adaptation is written for television by Emmy Award winner Anna McCleery (Netflix’s Free Rein, CBBC’s A Kind of Spark, and BBC & ZDF’s upcoming The Lady Grace Mysteries).

James Strong (Broadchurch, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, Fire Country) is attached as lead director.

Murder Most Unladylike is among the first co-productions to emerge from Studiocanal’s in-house label Studiocanal Stories. The label is dedicated to literary adaptations for film and television and is led by Sarah Reese Geffroy.

James Strong’s Strong Film and TV will EP alongside Strong’s Matt Tombs and Loretta Preece. Studiocanal’s investment in Strong Film and Television was announced in 2023.

Murder Most Unladylike marks author Robin Stevens’ first development under her newly formed film and television production banner Unladylike Productions.

The 6 x 45’ returning series is based on the much loved multi-million copy best-selling book series by Robin Stevens, originally published by Puffin (an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s) in the UK and by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in the USA.  With 12 books in the main series, in addition to a three-book spin-off series, Murder Most Unladylike has been translated into 21 languages, selling over 3.1M copies globally.

M-K Kennedy, Managing Director of Studiocanal Television comments: “We are delighted to be working with the exceptionally talented Robin Stevens, Anna McCleery and the Strong Film + Television team to bring Murder Most Unladylike to life. The books are a rare and exciting blend of twisty Agatha Christie-style whodunnits, female empowerment, and glossy aspirational settings; all centred around a rich and loveable depiction of female friendship. The lead characters Daisy and Hazel are a duo worthy of Watson & Holmes stature, beloved by millions of fans across the world for their independence, curiosity and wicked sense of humour. The strength of the IP, coupled with the vision of Anna McCleery will ensure this is going to be family co-viewing at its best and testament to our continued ambition to bring bold literary adaptations to television audiences worldwide and with phenomenal franchise opportunity.”

Loretta Preece, Co-Creative Director of Strong Film and Television adds: “James, Matt and I could not be more thrilled to be working with Robin Stevens and STUDIOCANAL on these much-loved books and adapting them with all the richness they deserve.  With three daughters who are locked into the Murder Most Unladylike fandom, I came to this project with full throttle passion.   I understand how well the characters, stories and world resonates with young readers and the excitement levels that families will have to know that these books are coming to screen.  Working closely with Robin Stevens, Sarah Reese Geffroy and now Anna McCleery has been pure joy, and we are so excited to dramatise this world with all of James Strong’s trademark sense of visual flair and character depth.”

Robin Stevens expands: “It has always been my dream to bring Hazel and Daisy and their world to life on screen, and I can’t think of better partners to make that dream a reality. Strong Film & TV have an incredible crime pedigree, and Studiocanal are the caretakers of beloved family IP like Paddington and Miffy. I am so proud to be working with them, and with award-winning writer Anna McCleery – there is so much personal passion within the team, and I know that together we are going to create a version of Murder Most Unladylike that will both delight fans and introduce my stories to a huge new audience. It’s an adventure as exciting as anything in my books!”

Anna McCleery concludes: “I could not love these books more; they are clever, thrilling and bursting with humour and heart. Hazel and Daisy are a totally unique teen girl detective duo and working with Robin, Strong and the team at StudioCanal to bring them to TV life has been an absolute honour. Bunbreaks forever! “