‘You Are Here’, David Nicholls’ tender midlife love story, is being adapted for television, with Claire Foy (The Crown, All of Us Strangers) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession, Death by Lightning) leading the cast.
The BBC and Starz have commissioned the eight-part series, based on Nicholls’ critically acclaimed, best-selling novel about two lonely strangers who unexpectedly find themselves walking across northern England together. Nothing tests a potential relationship quite like aching feet, unpredictable weather and several hundred kilometres of countryside.
Nicholls, whose previous novels include One Day, Starter for Ten and Us, will adapt the book for television himself. Lenny Abrahamson (Normal People, Room) is set to direct, with Element Pictures producing the series.
Set along the Coast to Coast walking trail from the Lake District to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire, ‘You Are Here’ stars Foy as Marnie and Macfadyen as Michael.
When a mutual friend brings them together, Marnie and Michael unexpectedly set off on an epic walk across England. Despite neither of them looking for a relationship, the pair gradually find themselves on the brink of something which might be precisely what they both need.
The drama explores loneliness, love and the obstacles of midlife as Marnie and Michael make their way through the stunning, and frequently soaking wet, English countryside. Along the route, they must navigate an undeniable attraction which proves both exhilarating and terrifying.
“I’m so delighted to be working on You Are Here with Element, the BBC, Starz and Lenny, whose work I’ve admired for many years. And Matthew and Claire are both just dream casting, wonderful in comedy and drama, so detailed and thoughtful and sympathetic. The intention with the novel was to write a close-up study of a relationship, but set against this magnificent landscape, and that’s our ambition here too; to make something both intimate and epic, funny and dramatic, a romantic comedy with real emotion. We can’t wait to bring Marnie and Michael’s journey to the screen,” commented David Nicholls.
“As a huge admirer of David’s writing, I’m delighted to be collaborating with him to bring You Are Here to the screen. The novel is such a beautiful love story – funny, profound and ultimately deeply hopeful. I’m also extremely excited to have Claire and Matthew, two actors I hugely admire, playing Michael and Marnie,” added Lenny Abrahamson.
The project reunites Abrahamson and Element Pictures following the hugely successful BBC adaptation of ‘Normal People’. Nicholls and Abrahamson will both serve as executive producers alongside Foy, Macfadyen, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Emma Norton, Jonny Richards and Anna Ferguson. Clare Shepherd serves as producer.
“Like countless others, I loved this book, packed full of charm, humour, heartache and joy. The combination of David’s wonderful scripts, Lenny back directing on the BBC, Element Pictures producing, and Claire and Mathew leading our cast is a real gift. I can’t wait for Marnie and Michael to spring off the page and onto the screen. BBC viewers are in for a treat,” said Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama.
Filming will take place in the Lake District and around Manchester. Fremantle will handle global sales, with De Maio Entertainment spearheading the partnership with Starz.
‘You Are Here’ will premiere on the BBC in the UK, with a premiere date yet to be announced. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
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