BBC Two has greenlit Stonemouth, a two-part adaptation of the Iain Banks’ novel; and Boy Meets Girl, a new six episode comedy series which is being described as “Britain’s first transgender sitcom”, it was announced today at the Edinburgh Television Festival.
BBC Scotland and Slate North are producing the adaptation of Iain Banks’ Stonemouth. The two-parter is a rite of passage tale set in the fictional Aberdeenshire village of Stonemouth which follows Stewart Gilmour, who returns to the village for his best friend’s funeral. Run out of town a year earlier by his girlfriend’s family, Stewart is forced to face up to his own past whilst uncovering the sinister truth behind his friend’s apparent suicide. The adaptation was written by David Kane and is being directed by Charles Martin. The executive producers are Christopher Aird and Andrea Calderwood.
Boy Meets Girl, hailed by BBC Two as the country’s first transgender sitcom, follows Leo, who’s bad day gets worse when his blind date fails to show up. But then he bumps into Judy and finds himself deeply attracted to this surprising and beguiling woman. They bond over drinks and, unfazed by the fact that there’s a bit of an age gap between them, arrange to meet the following evening. Leo’s mother is unhappy that he’s having dinner with an older woman. But Leo doesn’t care what she thinks; he knows that he’s just met someone very special. The comedy was created by Elliott Kerrigan and written by Elliott Kerrigan & Simon Carlyle. Tiger Aspect Productions is producing.
In addition to these two commissions, the BBC’s Director of Television Danny Cohen, who was filling in for BBC Two Controller Kim Shillinglaw at the festival, revealed that Jack Whitehall’s Back Chat would be relocating from BBC Three to BBC Two for its upcoming second season. He also announced a new four-part sketch show fronted by Javone Prince titled The Javone Prince Show, as well as two factual commissions. The first factual commission follows David Olusoga exploring the black history of Britain; while the second features Sue Perkins as she travels the length of the Mekong River in south east Asia.
