Scripted

BBC Studios and Pastel Film, today announced a scripted format agreement that will see Sally Wainwright’s BAFTA award winning drama Happy Valley, adapted for the Turkish audience. This will be the first time that the critically acclaimed drama has been remade for an international audience.

The series which will be known locally as Son Nefesime Kadar will star acclaimed actress Nurgül Yeşilçay (Paramparca), as Catherine Cawood, a no-nonsense police sergeant in a small town whose world is turned upside down when the man she thinks is responsible for her daughter’s death - Tommy Lee Royce- is released from prison. Rising star Emre Bey (Elimi Birakma) plays Tommy Lee Royce, with acclaimed actor Emre Kinay (Gunesin Kizları) playing Catherine’s ex-husband Richard Cawood and Ertan Saban (Elveda Rumeli) as new character, Vedat.

Adapted by Hatice Meryem, whose previous work includes local adaptations of Shameless and Desperate Housewives, the series is currently in production in Istanbul. The series is produced by Yaşar İrvül and Efe İrvül and directed by Deniz Çelebi Dikilitaş. It is due to air on free-to-air channel FOX in the coming months.

Originally airing in the UK on BBC One Happy Valley is a critical and ratings success, with series two attracting an average audience of 9.3 million in the UK. A third and final series is in production, made by Lookout Point for the BBC and co-produced with AMC.

André Renaud, Senior Vice President - Global Format Sales at BBC Studios said, “We have seen a brilliant response from Turkish audiences to the formidable female characters that lead our scripted formats already in market- Doctor Foster, The Split and Mistresses. The depth and dimension that the character of Catherine Cawood has runs very deep and I’m confident that Nurgül Yeşilçay will be able to bring justice to the role”

Efe Irvul at Pastel Film said “When we first watched Happy Valley we were deeply touched by its story and strong characters. We have realized how universal the concept is and how deeply it could resonate with Turkish audiences. We immediately took action to bring this splendid story home. We have a talented cast and a hard-working crew. We believe Son Nefesime Kadar will be very successful in Turkey.”

The agreement with Pastel Film was brokered by Tommaso Muffato, Format Sales Executive for BBC Studios.