ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill has commissioned Mavis Eccleston, the real-life story of a woman who survived a joint suicide pact with her husband of nearly 60 years and was subsequently arrested and charged with his murder.
The four-part drama will star Penelope Wilton (After Life, Downton Abbey, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Jonathan Pryce (Wolf Hall, Slow Horses, The Crown) in the leading roles of Mavis and Dennis Eccleston and will be produced by Corestar Media and Indefinite Films.
In a complicated mix of raw and intense emotions. Much to the anguish and upset of their adult children, Kevin and Joy, Mavis and Dennis decided to end their lives together when 81-year-old Dennis received a terminal cancer diagnosis and declined treatment to avoid prolonging his suffering. He’d had cancer twice before and knew the gruelling toll the invasive treatment would take on him and his family life. Having taken an overdose together, they are both rushed to the hospital, where Dennis passes away, but Mavis survives. Following a confused and disorienting interview with hospital staff, the Police are alerted, and Mavis is arrested.
Chris Lang (Unforgotten, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, I Jack Wright) has written the series and each of the four episodes will be directed by Bruce Goodison (Anne, Doctor Foster, Then Barbara Met Alan), with Kate Cook producing (The Cure, Glasgow Girls, The Watchman)
Having gained the confidence and trust of the Eccleston family, Tom Brittney (Grantchester) brought the project to Corestar and has collaborated on the development of the series.
Commented Tom Brittney: “When I first read about Mavis and Dennis in 2018, I was struck by the extraordinary love at its heart and the profound injustice their family endured. I felt their story, told with care and humanity, could be a powerful drama and a worthy contribution to a debate that remains urgent and deeply complex. Having worked with ITV, I knew they’d be the perfect home as an institution that champions powerful, social justice stories.”
Chris Lang said: “From the moment Mavis and Dennis’s extraordinary story was told to me, I knew I had to write the script – but maybe not for the reasons one might suspect. Although their story does ask profound questions about how we live and end our lives, for me, their story was always about something simpler and more enduring. For me this was always about love. Unconditional love.”
Commented Bruce Goodison: “What excites me about this series is the towering humanity and dignity of this lively Cannock-based working-class family. There is joy in the pain this family suffered during this horrendous ordeal. They are the perfect lightning rod for the assisted dying debate.”
Penelope Wilton commented: “Mavis was devoted to her husband, Dennis, their enduring love for each other clear to see to all. They lived life on their own terms and when the time came, she wanted to respect his wishes. The fact she then faced the very real prospect of spending the rest of her life in prison for acting out of love is simply unimaginable. To be asked to bring her experience to life is a huge responsibility and true honour.”
Jonathan Pryce added: “This is a powerful and timely story of an extraordinary, devoted couple as they face the painful dilemma of assisted dying. We will hopefully honour their deep love for each other and their bravery.”
ITV Director of Drama Polly Hill will oversee the production from the broadcaster’s perspective.“This is a poignant and powerful real-life story and I’m indebted to the team at Corestar and Indefinite Films for entrusting Mavis Eccleston to ITV where important, socially relevant stories can be told and brought to the attention of a mass audience. It’s ultimately a love story and I’m honoured that Penelope Wilton and Jonathan Pryce have agreed to play Mavis and Dennis.”
Corestar’s Ross Murray said: “The Ecclestons were an ordinary family, just like any other, but what happened to them and their mum was truly extraordinary and we are honoured to be the custodians of bringing their story to screen.”
Mavis Eccleston and her family have given their blessing to the drama and have been available to Chris Lang and the production team throughout the script process.
Commented Kate Cook: “We are all aware of how challenging the market is right now so it’s all the more important that impactful and moving stories, like the Ecclestons’ are told. This couldn’t be done without the backing of ITV and Calculus but also the support of our fantastic cast and Bristol based crew. Without them important projects like this wouldn’t be made.”
The executive producers are Corestar Media Managing Director Richard Hart, Ross Murray and Tom Brittney, and on behalf of Indefinite films Bruce Goodison. Chris Lang also serves as an executive producer.
Richard Hart said: “As a company, we feel incredibly privileged to be a part of telling the Ecclestons’ story. From the first meeting Chris had with the family, I felt he understood them completely and the overwhelming adversity of their story.”
The drama will be backed by production financing from UK-based Calculus Media, with international sales and distribution being handled by newly formed Highroad Entertainment, run by James Durie and Richard Tulk-Hart.
Mavis Eccleston will begin filming in Bristol in June 2026. News of further casting will be announced in due course.
Jon Creamer
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