UK independent Suitable Viewing has announced its first television commission – a live action drama series commissioned by Jon East for CBBC, entitled THE ROMAN MYSTERIES and based on the best-selling novels written by Caroline Lawrence and published by Orion Children’s Books.
Suitable Viewing MD Martyn Auty says, “The Roman Mysteries are hugely popular amongst 7-14 year-olds and are best-sellers worldwide. We are thrilled to be adapting the books for our first television commission – the historical setting, pacey, mysterious plots, and strong original characters are perfect for the family audience for whom we at Suitable Viewing are specialists.”
Caroline Lawrence adds, “Roman Mysteries fans will be over the moon, and so am I. It’s a privilege to be working with Martyn Auty and his team, who are hugely enthusiastic about the series, and it’s an honour to be working with the BBC.”
Adapted for the small screen by BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Olivia Hetreed (The Girl with a Pearl Earring), The Roman Mysteries follows the adventures of four children aged 10-13 living in Rome circa 79AD. Every episode will see the gang – who are each from very different social and ethnic backgrounds – embark on a different mystery-solving escapade. The drama will take viewers into a world where children are called upon to tackle adult issues, confront crime, immorality and natural disasters, and to work out their own resolutions to the problems they face. Whilst being firmly and evocatively set in the 1st century, the characters’ interests and concerns, including friendship, pets, clothes, make-up, family relationships, will have a contemporary, 21st century resonance.
Fiona Kennedy, Publisher at Orion Children’s Books, comments, “Caroline’s Roman Mysteries are perfect for live-action TV drama and we’re thrilled that Suitable Viewing are making the series for CBBC. This will obviously be a terrific boost for a series of novels that are already very popular worldwide.”
The series will be filmed on location in Bulgaria, Greece and Malta in order to reflect authentically the varied settings, which include rocky coastlines, mountains, towns and busy ports.
See www.romanmysteries.com
