BBC Drama announce four new productions
BBC Drama have today unveiled four new fictional sagas for BBC One.
“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.” Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama
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.
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?
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.
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?
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?
“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.” – Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content
