Monumental Television Scores TV Rights to Filthy Ritual

Monumental Television, owned by ITV Studios, has secured the rights to adapt Global’s true-crime podcast Filthy Ritual into a scripted drama.

The podcast explores the case of Juliette D’Souza, who wreaked havoc on a number of people’s lives in one of London’s wealthiest suburbs after claiming she could perform miracles through a special connection to an ancient source of power in the Amazonian jungle. She made at least £1 million, possibly much more, before a team of her victims came together to fight for justice.

Filthy Ritual is hosted by Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala. It is created by Global and NOVEL.

Monumental Television, founded by Alison Owen and Debra Hayward, will recreate the podcast into a scripted drama.

“We were absolutely gripped by the stranger-than-fiction true-crime story of Filthy Ritual and fell in love with the quirky Hampstead community who came together to get justice,” Owen said. “We’re delighted to be entrusted with bringing this hugely popular and thrilling podcast to the screen.”

“Filthy Ritual is one of the biggest podcast hits of the last 12 months, and it’s wonderful that it’s now being brought to life for TV,” said Vicky Etchells, head of news and factual for podcasts at Global. “Dozens of TV and film production companies pitched for the adaptation rights, which is a testament to the incredible storytelling from the team at Global and NOVEL. Monumental are experts in turning female-driven stories into blockbusters, so I can’t wait to work with them on the TV adaptation of Filthy Ritual.”