Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life Being Adapted for the BBC

BBC has commissioned a four-part adaptation of Kate Atkinson’s novel Life After Life from House Productions.

The drama has been adapted by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Bash Doran (Traitors) and will be directed by BAFTA Award winner John Crowley (Brooklyn, Boy A). Life After Life centers on Ursula Todd, who dies one night in 1910 before she can take her first breath. On that same night in 1910, Ursula is born and survives. She finds herself time and again living and dying in different circumstances only to be reborn into a new, alternative version of life once more.

Filming on Life After Life will take place in spring 2021. Doran has written all four episodes, Crowley will direct, and the producer is Kate Ogborn (End of the F***ing World). Doran and Crowley will be executive producers as will Atkinson.

Tessa Ross and Juliette Howell, executive producers and founders of House Productions, said: “We feel hugely privileged that Kate Atkinson has entrusted the adaptation of her bestselling, award-winning novel Life After Life to House. We have brought together an immensely talented team who love the novel as we do to: Bash Doran’s scripts brilliantly capture the heart and soul of the novel, the warmth and scale of its world and the extraordinary characters who inhabit it. All human life is here, told through the experiences of Ursula who keeps on dying and being reborn.

“And in John Crowley, we know we have a wonderful and ambitious director who brings huge heart, gripping storytelling and an extraordinary visual flair to this incredible story. We can’t wait to get started.”

Piers Wenger, director of BBC Drama, said: “We are honored to be able to bring Kate Atkinson’s adored Life After Life to life on the BBC. With the incredible team of Bash, John and House Productions behind it we have no doubt that this is going to be a really remarkable adaptation.”

Mark Linsey, chief creative officer at BBC Studios, said: “Life After Life is set to be a hugely compelling and ambitious production for audiences both in the U.K. and globally. Kate Atkinson’s novel takes you through so many varying and turbulent scenarios with the character Ursula Todd that are always unpredictable yet poignant. It’s a pleasure to work once again with our productions partners House Productions and I’m excited to watch them work their creative magic and adapt this award-winning novel for television.”