Press Release
Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, have today unveiled four new fictional dramas for BBC One.
From a family's struggle with the impact of an age gap romance to a father's decision to accept hush money for a terrible crime against his son, a timely conspiracy thriller exploring the extraordinary surveillance capabilities of the intelligence services and an adaption of a best-selling mystery novel dealing with a woman's struggle with dementia, they tell a wide range of engaging stories in keeping with BBC One and BBC drama's commitment to producing original, diverse and exceptional British drama.
Piers Wenger, says: “I’m delighted to announce four new drama commissions for BBC One with a real emphasis on compelling, contemporary subject matter from writers with a strong diversity of voice. From Marnie Dickens’ explosive new family drama Gold Digger to Levi David Addai’s timely and provocative morality tale Dark Mon£y, to Ben Chanan’s electric conspiracy thriller The Capture and Andrea Gibbs’ part-detective story Elizabeth is Missing, each of these four dramas demonstrate a commitment to telling stories about life in Britain now. We are honoured to be working with such fresh and original voices to bring them to life.”
Charlotte Moore, says: “Marnie Dickens, Levi David Addai, Andrea Gibb and Ben Chanan are among the UK’s most exciting writing talent whose originality and flair will bring a bold new flavour to BBC One through their four different contemporary British stories. These new shows will stir emotions and get the nation talking because BBC One drama is at its best when it takes on subjects with heart that resonate with modern Britain.”
Casting for the four dramas will be announced in the coming months.
Gold Digger
Written and created by Marnie Dickens (Thirteen) and produced by Mainstreet Pictures, Gold Digger tells the story of wealthy 60 year old Julia as she falls in love with Benjamin, a man 25 years her junior. As this six part series progresses the impact their unconventional relationship has on her family is explored and the secrets of their past are revealed. Has Julia finally found the happiness she's always deserved? Or is Benjamin really the gold digger they think he is?
Marnie Dickens says: “I couldn't be happier to be working with the BBC and Mainstreet on a drama that puts an older woman unequivocally at the heart of the action.”
Piers Wenger says: “Gold Digger is a fantastically sexy thriller and an explosive family drama rolled in to one. This brilliantly original series explores the impact on those around her when a mother’s behaviour deviates from the norm - I’m delighted to announce Marnie’s first series commission for BBC One.
Gold Digger is a 6x60’ drama series written by Marnie Dickens. Executive producers are Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes for Mainstreet Pictures, Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC One and Marnie Dickens.
Dark Mon£y
A new thought-provoking four part drama by writer Levi David Addai (Damilola, Our Loved Boy), produced by The Forge, Dark Mon£y sees an ordinary London family decide to accept a substantial pay-off from a renowned filmmaker to keep silent about the abuse of their youngest son. Although guilt-ridden, they believe the money will enable the family to heal and move on, to start a new life and erase the memories of the past. But damage runs deep, and the price of taking the money may be very high.
Levi David Addai says: “I am extremely delighted to be given a fantastic opportunity by the BBC to present a drama which was birthed from my curiosity of what happens to those who have secretly accepted a substantial pay off from high profile figures. Dark Mon£y explores one family’s reason for accepting a financial settlement and whether this decision can ever help them move on, erase memories or replace justice.”
Piers Wenger says: “Timely but with a big existential question at its heart, Levi’s brilliantly inventive original series explores what happens when a mother and father do the wrong thing for the greater good of their family. In creating Dark Mon£y, Levi has conjured up a perfect morality tale for today.”
Dark Mon£y is a 4x60’ drama series written by Levi David Addai. Executive Producers are George Faber and Mark Pybus for The Forge, Lucy Richer for BBC One and Levi David Addai.
The Capture
Produced by Heyday Television and NBCUniversal International Studios, The Capture is the brainchild of writer-director Ben Chanan (Cyberbully). An acutely timely surveillance thriller set in London, The Capture begins with the unjust arrest of an innocent man and soon escalates into a multi-layered conspiracy of manipulated evidence. A spy show for the modern era, it asks - in an age where visual images can be drastically manipulated, yet criminal justice relies so heavily on video evidence - can you always believe what you see?
Ben Chanan says: "I am delighted to be joining forces with BBC Drama and Heyday on The Capture: a wronged-man conspiracy thriller inspired by urgent questions about surveillance, misinformation and the murky ethics of video-fakery. I couldn’t be in better company for the ambitious journey ahead.”
Piers Wenger says: “The Capture is a complex conspiracy thriller with a big human story at its heart. Research based but with huge flair in its storytelling, The Capture shines a light on surveillance culture and asks what happens in a world where we can no longer trust the evidence in front of us.”
The Capture is a 6x60’ series written by Ben Chanan. Executive Producers are David Heyman and Rosie Alison for Heyday Television, Ben Irving for BBC One, Tom Coan for NBCUniversal International Studios and Ben Chanan. It will be distributed by NBCUniversal International Distribution.
Elizabeth is Missing
Based on the best-selling novel by Emma Healey, written by Andrea Gibb (Swallows and Amazons) and made by STV Productions, Elizabeth is Missing combines a gripping mystery with a tender yet unflinching exploration of one woman’s struggle with dementia. When her best friend Elizabeth goes missing, Maud is convinced that something terrible has happened, and sets out to solve the mystery. But with her dementia worsening, unfinished business unearthed and the past and present starting to merge, Maud's search takes on a poignant urgency. Will Maud be able to discover the truth before she loses herself completely?
Andrea Gibb says: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to adapt this beautiful story. Emma has created an extraordinary heroine in Maud - she’s funny, tenacious, loyal - while also giving us a moving portrait of dementia from the inside out.”
Piers Wenger says: “Part detective story, part portrait of a fracturing mind, Andrea Gibb’s witty, sensitive adaptation of Emma Healey’s novel brings this first-hand account of experiencing dementia to life.”
Elizabeth is Missing is a 1x90’ drama written by Andrea Gibb, adapted from Emma Healey’s novel. Executive Producers are Sarah Brown and Andrea Gibb for STV Productions and Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Gaynor Holmes for BBC One.
From a family's struggle with the impact of an age gap romance to a father's decision to accept hush money for a terrible crime against his son, a timely conspiracy thriller exploring the extraordinary surveillance capabilities of the intelligence services and an adaption of a best-selling mystery novel dealing with a woman's struggle with dementia, they tell a wide range of engaging stories in keeping with BBC One and BBC drama's commitment to producing original, diverse and exceptional British drama.
Piers Wenger, says: “I’m delighted to announce four new drama commissions for BBC One with a real emphasis on compelling, contemporary subject matter from writers with a strong diversity of voice. From Marnie Dickens’ explosive new family drama Gold Digger to Levi David Addai’s timely and provocative morality tale Dark Mon£y, to Ben Chanan’s electric conspiracy thriller The Capture and Andrea Gibbs’ part-detective story Elizabeth is Missing, each of these four dramas demonstrate a commitment to telling stories about life in Britain now. We are honoured to be working with such fresh and original voices to bring them to life.”
Charlotte Moore, says: “Marnie Dickens, Levi David Addai, Andrea Gibb and Ben Chanan are among the UK’s most exciting writing talent whose originality and flair will bring a bold new flavour to BBC One through their four different contemporary British stories. These new shows will stir emotions and get the nation talking because BBC One drama is at its best when it takes on subjects with heart that resonate with modern Britain.”
Casting for the four dramas will be announced in the coming months.
Gold Digger
Written and created by Marnie Dickens (Thirteen) and produced by Mainstreet Pictures, Gold Digger tells the story of wealthy 60 year old Julia as she falls in love with Benjamin, a man 25 years her junior. As this six part series progresses the impact their unconventional relationship has on her family is explored and the secrets of their past are revealed. Has Julia finally found the happiness she's always deserved? Or is Benjamin really the gold digger they think he is?
Marnie Dickens says: “I couldn't be happier to be working with the BBC and Mainstreet on a drama that puts an older woman unequivocally at the heart of the action.”
Piers Wenger says: “Gold Digger is a fantastically sexy thriller and an explosive family drama rolled in to one. This brilliantly original series explores the impact on those around her when a mother’s behaviour deviates from the norm - I’m delighted to announce Marnie’s first series commission for BBC One.
Gold Digger is a 6x60’ drama series written by Marnie Dickens. Executive producers are Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes for Mainstreet Pictures, Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC One and Marnie Dickens.
Dark Mon£y
A new thought-provoking four part drama by writer Levi David Addai (Damilola, Our Loved Boy), produced by The Forge, Dark Mon£y sees an ordinary London family decide to accept a substantial pay-off from a renowned filmmaker to keep silent about the abuse of their youngest son. Although guilt-ridden, they believe the money will enable the family to heal and move on, to start a new life and erase the memories of the past. But damage runs deep, and the price of taking the money may be very high.
Levi David Addai says: “I am extremely delighted to be given a fantastic opportunity by the BBC to present a drama which was birthed from my curiosity of what happens to those who have secretly accepted a substantial pay off from high profile figures. Dark Mon£y explores one family’s reason for accepting a financial settlement and whether this decision can ever help them move on, erase memories or replace justice.”
Piers Wenger says: “Timely but with a big existential question at its heart, Levi’s brilliantly inventive original series explores what happens when a mother and father do the wrong thing for the greater good of their family. In creating Dark Mon£y, Levi has conjured up a perfect morality tale for today.”
Dark Mon£y is a 4x60’ drama series written by Levi David Addai. Executive Producers are George Faber and Mark Pybus for The Forge, Lucy Richer for BBC One and Levi David Addai.
The Capture
Produced by Heyday Television and NBCUniversal International Studios, The Capture is the brainchild of writer-director Ben Chanan (Cyberbully). An acutely timely surveillance thriller set in London, The Capture begins with the unjust arrest of an innocent man and soon escalates into a multi-layered conspiracy of manipulated evidence. A spy show for the modern era, it asks - in an age where visual images can be drastically manipulated, yet criminal justice relies so heavily on video evidence - can you always believe what you see?
Ben Chanan says: "I am delighted to be joining forces with BBC Drama and Heyday on The Capture: a wronged-man conspiracy thriller inspired by urgent questions about surveillance, misinformation and the murky ethics of video-fakery. I couldn’t be in better company for the ambitious journey ahead.”
Piers Wenger says: “The Capture is a complex conspiracy thriller with a big human story at its heart. Research based but with huge flair in its storytelling, The Capture shines a light on surveillance culture and asks what happens in a world where we can no longer trust the evidence in front of us.”
The Capture is a 6x60’ series written by Ben Chanan. Executive Producers are David Heyman and Rosie Alison for Heyday Television, Ben Irving for BBC One, Tom Coan for NBCUniversal International Studios and Ben Chanan. It will be distributed by NBCUniversal International Distribution.
Elizabeth is Missing
Based on the best-selling novel by Emma Healey, written by Andrea Gibb (Swallows and Amazons) and made by STV Productions, Elizabeth is Missing combines a gripping mystery with a tender yet unflinching exploration of one woman’s struggle with dementia. When her best friend Elizabeth goes missing, Maud is convinced that something terrible has happened, and sets out to solve the mystery. But with her dementia worsening, unfinished business unearthed and the past and present starting to merge, Maud's search takes on a poignant urgency. Will Maud be able to discover the truth before she loses herself completely?
Andrea Gibb says: “I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to adapt this beautiful story. Emma has created an extraordinary heroine in Maud - she’s funny, tenacious, loyal - while also giving us a moving portrait of dementia from the inside out.”
Piers Wenger says: “Part detective story, part portrait of a fracturing mind, Andrea Gibb’s witty, sensitive adaptation of Emma Healey’s novel brings this first-hand account of experiencing dementia to life.”
Elizabeth is Missing is a 1x90’ drama written by Andrea Gibb, adapted from Emma Healey’s novel. Executive Producers are Sarah Brown and Andrea Gibb for STV Productions and Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Gaynor Holmes for BBC One.
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