BBC
Wales strikes Gold with new drama
In
a major investment for Welsh drama, BBC Wales is turning Hearts
Of Gold, the first of a series of best-selling novels by Catrin
Collier, into a two-part drama for BBC ONE.
Hearts
of Gold was commissioned by BBC ONE Controller Lorraine Heggessey
and Controller of Drama Commissioning Jane Tranter. The series was
developed by Matthew Robinson, BBC Wales' Head of Drama, and scripts
for the the second book in the series have already been commissioned.
Matthew
Robinson says: "There are eight books in all, and the stories
in Catrin's novels have the potential to develop into a four year
project which would be worth around £20 million to BBC Wales,
and could run until 2007.
"Hearts
of Gold is a really Welsh project: it has a Welsh setting, a Welsh
theme, a Welsh writer and Welsh casting."
Set
in Pontypridd in South Wales, Hearts of Gold is the story of true
romance triumphing over adversity across three decades from the
'30s to the '50s.
In
the first book, Welsh nurse Bethan meets Dr Andrew John but, with
her colourful home life and unorthodox friends, Bethan's relationship
with Dr Andrew initially seems doomed to failure, coming as he does
from a wealthy and conservative family background.
The
remaining books in the series feature the same core group of characters
with a different story coming to the fore in each one.
But
Robinson says: "It doesn't matter where you start - you can
pick up any of the books and each is complete in itself, which will
be the same for viewers of the stories on TV. They are confident,
heartwarming stories, full of fantastic characters the audience
will love.
"Very
many people will already be familiar with Catrin Collier's work
- she is, in effect, the Catherine Cookson of Wales and I've seen
her novels selling all around the world."
The
drama is a huge project for BBC Wales which will start casting in
early summer ready to start filming in July. Already locations are
being sought which will accurately reflect the life and times in
the valleys from the '30s through to the '50s.
"There
are lots of great parts for both established stars and stars in
waiting," says Robinson.
Writer
Matthew Baylis, a novelist and former storyliner on EastEnders where
Robinson was executive producer, has been given the task of translating
Swansea-based Collier's works into script form. The drama, which
will be screened on BBC ONE next year, will be produced by Jane
Davies.
|
