BBC has ordered a further two seasons of Steven Knight’s 1920s-set gangster tale “Peaky Blinders,” which Netflix has exclusively in the U.S. The new BBC commission takes the gritty crime saga, starring Cillian Murphy, into seasons four and five.
The broadcaster has also confirmed a second season of Peter Bowker’s family drama “The A Word,” which centers on Joe, a boy with autism, and has announced three new scripted commissions.
The new dramas include Nick Payne’s adaptation of David Nicholls’ novel “Us,” which tells the story of Douglas and Connie Peterson, a couple whose marriage is on the rocks. When they go on a family grand tour of European cities, Douglas sees it as a last bid to win back the love of his wife and to repair his troubled relationship with his son. Drama Republic produces.
BBC will also tell the “heart-warming story” of actress Barbara Windsor. Single drama “Babs” will be written by Tony Jordan and air next year as she approaches her 80th birthday. The drama will be produced by BBC Studios in association with Red Planet Pictures.
BBC will bring to screen Sathnam Sanghera’s critically acclaimed memoir of love, secrets and lies, “The Boy With the Topknot,” produced by Parti Productions and Kudos. The series will tell the “humorous, touching and emotional story” of a second-generation British Indian guy growing up in Britain and how he juggles his family, love life and career.
All dramas have been commissioned by Lucy Richer, acting controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, and Charlotte Moore, acting director of television, apart from “Babs,” which was commissioned by Moore and Polly Hill, former acting controller of drama.
