Former Doctor Who and Broadchurch showrunner Chris Chibnall’s debut novel is becoming an ITV drama series.
Chibnall will pen the small screen adaptation of Death at the White Hart, which will be published in two weeks.
Death at the White Hart is set in the Dorset village of Fleetcombe, where the village pub’s landlord is found murdered. Detective Nicola Bridge must unpick a web of lies and rivalries to unmask the killer. The novel is the first of a two book deal in the UK and U.S. for Chibnall.
Death at the White Hart will be produced by Chibnall’s Imaginary Friends Productions along with Death in Paradise maker Red Planet Pictures. ITV said Red Planet secured the deal with Imaginary Friends in a highly competitive landscape, “with multiple offers for the rights from production companies and buyers worldwide.”
Chibnall was Doctor Who showrunner prior to Russell T Davies and also created Broadchurch, one of ITV’s most popular shows of all time. He is behind Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery.
Death at the White Hart was commissioned by ITV drama boss Polly Hill. Chibnall said: “Polly’s dynamic vote of confidence in Death At The White Hart made it a no-brainer to bring the novel to the screen with ITV. Within this cliffhanger-packed murder mystery sits a specifically British story about how people live their lives right now. There’s no better home for it than ITV.”
Fremantle, which owns Red Planet-owner Asacha, will sell worldwide. The deal rights to Death at the White Hart were handled by Alex Jones for Red Planet together with Raffaella De Angelis, spearheading the literary acquisition for Fremantle. Chibnall is represented by Cathy King and Eugenie Furniss at 42.
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