Sky Atlantic has ordered I Hate Suzie, an eight episode drama series about “the moment in life when the mask slips”, which hails from Billie Piper and Lucy Prebble. In addition to co-creating, Billie Piper will also lead the cast.
I Hate Suzie asks if any us can survive being well and truly ‘known’. Suzie Pickles (Billie Piper), a star on the wane, has her whole life upended when her phone is hacked and a photo of her emerges in an extremely compromising position.
The series reveals her unmasking and its trauma episode by episode, through the stages of Shock, Denial, Fear, Shame, Bargaining, Guilt, Anger and Acceptance as Suzie and her best friend and manager Naomi try to hold her life, career and marriage together in the face of being exposed for who she truly is. But who the hell is that? “At last I get to make my best friend BIllie Piper do terrible things on screen again. It is all I live for”, said Lucy Prebble.
Bad Wolf – the indie set up by Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner – is producing I Hate Suzie. Andrea Dewsbery is the series producer, while Julie Gardner is the executive producer. It was commissioned by Sky’s Managing Director of Content Zai Bennett and Sky’s Director of Drama and Sky Studios Cameron Roach. The satcaster’s international distribution division Sky Vision will handle global sales. “It’s taken years to finally get Lucy, my long-term GF and favourite writer in London – to work with me again”, said Billie Piper. “We feel we’ve created something timely and not for the faint-hearted. If you too suffer with anxiety, shame, compulsive lying but like a laugh, please tune in at some point.”
“We couldn’t be more excited about I Hate Suzie – a truly unique show, from the brilliant, long-standing creative partnership of Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper”, commented Cameron Roach. “Lucy’s scripts promise a vital, moving and darkly funny portrayal of the thirty-something woman, and the prospect of Billie bringing Suzie to life is thrilling. Following in the footsteps of Patrick Melrose, Save Me, and Chernobyl, I Hate Suzie’s commission underlines our belief in backing truly original drama and Sky Atlantic as the home for the most innovative storytelling and ideas.”
While Bad Wolf’s Julie Gardner added: “Jane Tranter and I loved travelling time and space with Billie as the original ‘Bad Wolf’ – and know that her talent and fearlessness will make I Hate Suzie very special. Lucy Prebble’s blistering and provocative scripts take Suzie on a raw, rollercoaster ride full of upheaval and self-discovery. We can’t wait to get started!”
