ITV orders Military wives drama

ITV has ordered a new drama revolving around the wives and girlfriends of men serving in the army.

Broadcast reports ITV has ordered a six-part drama, to be produced by its own production arm ITV Studios, which has been created by Sue Teddern. The writer wrote for BBC One comedy Birds of the Feather which starred Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke and revolved around two friends whose husbands were both serving time in prison.

The series has a working title of Swag – Service Wives and Girlfriends. Kim Crowther, who produced Coronation Street between 2008 and 2010, will be the producer. Corrie writer Jan McVerry will co-write the series. Broadcast reports the drama will revolve four women whose husbands or boyfriends are serving in Afghanistan but will be upbeat in tone.

The last Army related series to air on ITV1 was Ultimate Force which ran for four seasons between 2002 and 2008. The much panned, by critics, drama starred Ross Kemp, Tony Curran and Heather Peace.

In 2005 Shed Media produced drama Bombshell was scheduled to air on ITV1. The series starred Zoe Lucker, Jeremy Sheffield and Robert Beck but despite being completely filmed and edited the series has not been shown on British television nor has it been released on DVD. The drama focused on the lives of soldiers and officers serving in the army.

In the 1990s Central Television produced another army related series; the fondly remembered Solider Solider which starred Robson Green, Jerome Flynn and Denise Welch. The drama revolved around the lives of soldiers and their families in the aftermath of the Cold War and cut backs in the military.