BBC Commissions Trio of Dramas from Female Writers

Nicole Taylor is writing the emotional thriller The Nest for BBC One, while Michaela Coel will pen the landmark drama Jan 22nd (working title) for BBC Two, and Sally Rooney will be adapting her forthcoming novel Normal People for BBC Three.

The Nest is a brand-new thriller to be written by Taylor (Three Girls, The C Word, Wild Rose) and executive produced by Susan Hogg for Studio Lambert (Three Girls, The Feed). The six-part drama explores the consequences of a pact between a wealthy couple and a teenage girl that changes all of their lives forever.

Taylor 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.”

Coel’s Jan 22nd (w/t) is a brand-new landmark drama for BBC Two, produced by Various Artists and co-produced with FALKNA Productions. The series explores the question of sexual consent in contemporary life and how, in the new landscape of dating and relationships, we make the distinction between liberation and exploitation. Coel (Chewing Gum) will also star.

Coel commented: “I feel weirdly overwhelmed and honored to be making something again, something I’m making myself, with a great team.”

Rooney (Conversations with Friends) herself is adapting her upcoming novel Normal People for TV. The series will be directed by Lenny Abrahamson (Room, Frank) and produced by Element Pictures (Room, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Lobster).

Rooney said: “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.”