Cultural historian’s forthcoming book to be worked into documentary by factual label
Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders indie Impossible Factual is to adapt historian, author and broadcaster Fern Riddell’s forthcoming book on Queen Victoria for TV, Broadcast can reveal.
Impossible Factual has optioned the factual rights for Victoria’s Secret – The Private Passion of a Queen to make a documentary, based on Dr Riddell’s fresh analysis of the private life of iconic British monarch.
Victoria’s Secret by Fern Riddell (working title) will explore the much-debated relationship between Victoria and her right-hand man, protector and loyal companion John Brown, digging into the many rumours that surrounded the pair.
Unearthing groundbreaking evidence in her book, Riddell re-examines long-established historical views of Victoria, depicting her as a grieving widow, to craft a compelling human portrait of a woman in passionate midlife.
Billed as weaving in undertones of Bridgerton and Outlander and set against a backdrop of austere court politics, family dynasties and the mystique of the Scottish Highlands, the book aims to untangles mysteries the royal family has tried to keep hidden for generations.
News of the option comes on the day (14 February) Riddell’s latest work is unveiled by publisher Ebury Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The work is due to be published on 31 July.
Cultural historian Riddell is behind noted works The Victorian Guide to Sex: Desire and Deviance in the 19th Century, Sex: Lessons from History and Death In Ten Minutes.
She has been involved with myriad history documentaries for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky Arts, Smithsonian, National Geographic and Discovery+ as an on-screen expert, and presented series one and two of Sky History series Truthseekers alongside fellow academic and historian Dr Karen Bellinger. She is also the host of Sky History’s Not What You Thought You Knew podcast.
Impossible Factual’s head of documentary Adam Luria will lead the adaptation of Victoria’s Secret, building on the label’s longstanding relationship with Riddell, who was a key expert on CuriosityStream/Nat Geo eight-part doc History: The Interesting Bits.
Riddell said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be working with such an outstanding company as Impossible Factual, who I’ve known for many years.
“Stories like this require trust and filmmakers who have both dedication and integrity.”
Creative director Steve Maher and managing director Jonathan Drake will exec the adaptation alongside Luria.
Impossible Factual is behind Smithsonian Network’s Emmy-nominated segregation-era The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, Channel 5 single The Lost Scrolls of Vesuvius with Alice Roberts and BBC4 film The Cambridgeshire Crucifixion.
Luria said: “This story has been keep secret for over 160 years, and Fern’s book will shake the very foundations of the British monarchy and rewrite the history of our country.”
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