A Kind Of Spark writer to adapt The Lady Grace Mysteries
The BBC has tied with France Télévisions and Germany’s ZDF to greenlight an adaptation of childrens series The Lady Grace Mysteries.
Hailing from kids indies France’s Cottonwood Media and Coolabi Productions and ZDF Studios, 10 x 24-minute The Lady Grace Mysteries will tell the story of teenage detective Lady Grace Cavendish who works as a private spy for Queen Elizabeth I. Aimed at 8–12 year olds, the series sees its titular character investigating mysteries while navigating the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl.
Adapting the series of 12 books dating back to 2004 is the creator of CBBC’s neurodiversity-focused returner A Kind Of Spark, Anna McCleery.
Filming is set to take place in a British castle next year. The production will be overseen by Cottonwood’s head of fiction Manon Ardisson and lead director Alexander Jacob, who is also managing director of Cottonwood Media Ltd in the UK.
The BBC’s senior head of children’s commissioning 7+ Sarah Muller said: “The Lady Grace Mysteries feels so fresh and gives our viewers the opportunity to spend time in a really exciting period of history, but in a modern and standout way, with a modern and standout lead.
“Solving mysteries is such a favourite too and with such a unique setting, it should be attractive to a much wider audience.”
Co-founders of Federation Studios subsidiary Cottonwood Media David Michel, Cécile Laurenson and Zoé Carrera Allaix said: “When Coolabi introduced the books to us, it was one of those precious moments when you can instantly picture a really cool TV show. Packed with intrigue, wit, adventure and humour, the response from the broadcasters involved was incredibly positive from the get-go.”
Director of Coolabi Productions Michael Dee said: “There’s never been a better time to tell historical stories with a contemporary twist, and relevant themes for today’s audiences.”
Federation Kids & Family and ZDF Studios will handle distribution. Cottonwood Media is behind live-action series include Circuit Breakers for Apple TV+ and Spellbound for ZDF and Hulu, while Coolabi Productions is behind CBeebies’ Clangers and Nickelodeon’s Poppy Cat.
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