Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, has announced three new drama series written by three female writers for BBC1, BBC2 and BBC3.
Nicole Taylor is to write emotional thriller The Nest for BBC One, while Michaela Coel – who is due to give the MacTaggart Lecture at Edinburgh TV Festival this evening, is writing a landmark drama for BBC Two Jan 22nd (w/t), and Sally Rooney will be adapting her forthcoming novel Normal People for BBC Three.
The Nest is a new thriller exec produced by Susan Hogg for Studio Lambert (Three Girls, The Feed). The six-part fictional drama explores the consequences of a pact between a wealthy couple and a teenage girl. Wealthy Glasgow couple Dan and Emily are unable to have a baby. They meet Kaya, an 18 year old from the other side of the city, whose life is as precarious at theirs is comfortable. When Kaya agrees to carry their baby, it feels like they were meant to meet but was it really by chance?
Writer, Nicole Taylor (Three Girls), said: “The Nest forces an emotionally combustible confrontation between two Glasgows – and it’s the story I’ve wanted to tell all my life. I’m so excited to continue my collaboration with executive producer Sue Hogg and to be bringing my first original series to BBC One.”
Susan Hogg, Head of Drama, Studio Lambert said: “Having worked closely with Nicole on Three Girls and The C Word for the BBC, I am beyond excited to be collaborating once more with such an extraordinary talent. The Nest is a thrilling exploration into how we live now. Nicole has created a fascinating cast of characters in a breathtaking story which promises to take the audience on an emotional roller coaster. The Nest will be both challenging and hugely entertaining.”
The Nest (6×60’) is written by Nicole Taylor and will be produced by Studio Lambert for BBC One. It will be Executive Produced by Susan Hogg for Studio Lambert and Lucy Richer for the BBC.
For BBC2 there’s Michaela Coel’s Jan 22nd (w/t), produced by Various Artists Ltd and co-produced with FALKNA Productions.
The series explores the question of sexual consent in contemporary life. Set in London, the story centres on Arabella (Coel) and her group of fictional friends and colleagues “whose sexual adventures frequently collide with a world in which new codes of sexual practice are emerging.”
Creator Michaela Coel says: “I feel weirdly overwhelmed and honoured to be making something again, something I’m making myself, with a great team.”
Produced by Various Artists Ltd the series is a co-production with FALKNA Productions for BBC Two. It will be Executive Produced by Michaela Coel for FALKNA Productions, Phil Clarke for Various Artists Ltd and Piers Wenger for BBC Two.
BBC3’s Normal People is an adaptation by Sally Rooney of her forthcoming novel.
The series will be directed by Lenny Abrahamson (Room, Frank) and produced by Element Pictures (Room, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Lobster).
The series follows Marianne and Connell – both from a small west of Ireland town, but from very different backgrounds over several years as they embark on an on-off romance that starts at school and continues through college, as they test their relationship, experiment with other partners and explore different versions of themselves.
Sally Rooney, says: “I feel very privileged to be working with such an extraordinary team on the adaptation of “Normal People.” I’m looking forward to the challenge of working in a new form, and of thinking about these characters and their lives in new ways.”
Normal People will be produced by Element Pictures for BBC Three.
Staff Reporter
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