The BBC and SISTER have begun production on five-part thriller, The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste (In Fabric, Boxing Day), Alistair Petrie (Sex Education, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Night Manager) and Rebekah Staton (Raised by Wolves, Home) lead the cast as Cheryl, Rob and Alice respectively.
The show is the first original series from sibling writing duo Penelope Skinner (Fresh Meat, Linda, Briony Hatch – a graphic novel) and Ginny Skinner (Briony Hatch – a graphic novel), with Robbie McKillop (Guilt, Clique) boarding as lead director. The series will be distributed internationally by BBC Studios.
Cheryl (Baptiste) is a bestselling fantasy fiction author who, recently bereaved, now lives alone with her poodle, Goblin. Alice (Staton) is a formidable PA, a mother, and a lifelong Madonna fan. Rob (Petrie) is an eccentric and celebrated ecopreneur (allegedly). Three apparent strangers with nothing in common… Except Rob’s dupes, deceptions and delusions.
Joining the trio are Romola Garai (The Hour, Emma, Atonement) who plays Juno Fish, Alice’s boss and a prominent designer who is famous for her unique brand of idiosyncratic floral patterns and products, Derek Jacobi (Last Tango in Halifax, The Crown, Gladiator) who plays Sir Ralph Unwin who may or may not be being scammed by Rob, Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh, Mindhorn, Nathan Barley) who plays Alice’s painfully predictable, deeply kind, magician husband Benjy, Karl Johnson (Hot Fuzz, Lark Rise to Candleford) who plays Bill, Alice’s father and confidant, and Ellie Haddington (Enola Holmes, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) who plays Diane, Alice’s long suffering, insufferable mother.
Directors for the series are Robbie McKillop (Guilt, Clique) and Nicole Charles (Hair Power: Me and My Afro) who will be directing three and two episodes respectively.
Creators Penelope and Ginny Skinner said, “We couldn’t be more delighted that, thanks to Sister’s expert support and encouragement, this project has attracted such a talented group of collaborators to bring it to fruition. With Robbie McKillop and Nicole Charles’ insightful and creative direction along with an absolute dream cast, including stars like Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Rebekah Staton and Alistair Petrie, we are hugely proud that this show has found a home at the BBC. ”
Jo McClellan, Commissioning Editor, BBC Drama, said, “The BBC are thrilled to begin production on The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies with this fantastic cast and the brilliant Sister production team. Penny and Ginny have written an incredibly fun show which highlights how susceptible we all are to the modern fraudster, how they are everywhere and hiding in plain sight.”
Created and written by Penelope Skinner and Ginny Skinner, The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies is produced by Sister for BBC One and Executive Produced by Naomi de Pear (The Power, This is Going to Hurt, Flowers), Lydia Hampson(Fleabag, Cheat), and Director of Development Alice Tyler (The Baby, Landscapers, Flowers) and produced by Georgie Fallon(Dalgliesh, Criminal U.K) for Sister alongside Penelope Skinner and Ginny Skinner. Jo McClellan is Executive Producer for the BBC and Nawfal Faizullah is Commissioning Executive.
TX details to be confirmed.
Jon Creamer
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