Renowned British novelist William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is to be adapted for television for the first time by Eleven and multi-BAFTA award-winning screenwriter Jack Thorne.

First published by Faber for what was then an unknown author, the novel has become one of the most popular books on English curricula for the last 70 years. William Golding won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983.

Written by Jack Thorne and executive produced by Eleven’s Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell, LORD OF THE FLIES is a 4 x 60’ drama for BBC One and BBC iPlayer that tells the story of a group of young boys who find themselves stranded on a tropical island.

“I first read the book when I was seven and it made an indelible impression on me – more than any novel since,” says Joel Wilson.  “It is a great honour and joy to be taking responsibility for the adaptation of such a precious novel – particularly given I’ll be working alongside my dear friend Jack – one of the kindest and most insightful writers on the planet. He has written some of the more detailed and affecting portraits of human beings one could hope to encounter.

“We are deeply grateful to have such full-hearted support from William Golding’s daughter Judy Carver, as well as Charlotte and Lindsay, all of whom fell in love with Jack’s vision for the series immediately.”

Judy Golding Carver, William Golding’s daughter, says: “My father wrote the novel in a passionate, visionary response to the aftermath of war.  He understood that its relevance would not die away.  I believe he would welcome the freshness and vigour with which Jack and Joel undertake the project, and he would certainly be touched by their intense commitment.  Our family has been encouraged by our discussions with them – and as a result we put our trust in their skills and enthusiasm. My father was proud of the novel and had faith in its power and honesty. His family believe that this adaptation will do full justice to these qualities.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, adds: “We are so excited that Jack Thorne will be adapting such an iconic, timeless and much-loved novel for television for the very first time – and that the adaptation has been endorsed by the late William Golding’s family. It’s a formidable writing and production team that will bring these definitive characters to life for all generations.”

Lord of the Flies is an Eleven production for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series is written by Jack Thorne. The executive producers are Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell for Eleven, Jack Thorne for One Shoe Films and Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC.

To read the full BBC press release, click here.

POLLY (AMOROUS), an Eleven project in association with Bluebird Productions, has been selected for Netflix and Creative UK’s BREAKOUT programme, from nearly 800 applicants.

BREAKOUT gives emerging genre filmmakers the opportunity and funding to advance their debut feature into development with the partnership and support of Netflix. It offers new UK-based filmmakers the opportunity to take popular genres audiences love and reinterpret them through a distinctively British lens.

“Creative UK’s partnership with Netflix is a significant evolution of our support for emerging filmmakers over the last decade. Breakout has given a hugely talented cohort access to the expertise of both Netflix and Creative UK to help unlock their potential and push up to the next level. We are thrilled for our first cohort, who we’re sure have been emboldened by Breakout to realise brilliant films that will impress, engage and thoroughly entertain in equal measure.” said Caroline Norbury OBE, Chief Executive of Creative UK.

Synopsis: Polly desperately wants to write romance novels and, being in a borderline-perfect decade- long relationship with “the one” (Luca), she’s sure she has all the right credentials. Right? Wrong!! After a devastating drive-by break up, and with her first potential book deal about to go down the pan, Polly is thrust into the terrifying world of modern dating like a lubed-up clown in a minefield. But will Polly have to ditch everything she thinks she knows about romance in order to learn about love? And could there be more than one way to love – and even, more than one love of her life?

Read the full Screen Daily article here.