BBC adapts Jacqueline Wilson for Christmas
- Published: 01 October 2008 16:26
- Author: Katherine Rushton
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- Last Updated: 01 October 2008 16:26
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Juliet Stevenson is to star in a BBC film adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's teen novel Dustbin Baby, about a girl whose life is a blur of social workers and care homes.
The 90-minute film is planned to air around Christmas and also stars The Golden Compass's Dakota Blue Richards and The Thin Blue Line actor David Haig. CBBC and BBC1 jointly commissioned the drama from specialist children's producer Kindle Entertainment.
The film centres on April Richards, a teenager who was discovered as a baby in an industrial bin behind a pizza parlour and has since spent her life in care.
It opens on the morning of her 14th birthday, when she has a row with her foster mother, Marion (Stevenson), and storms off to find out where she comes from.
As Marion searches for April, she is plagued by doubts over her ability as a mother. "It is a film that parents and children will enjoy watching while giving them much to talk about," said Anne Brogan, Kindle co-founder and executive producer of the project.
Pleasureland writer Helen Blakeman has penned the screenplay, Julia Ouston is lined up as producer, and Bafta winner Juliet May is the director.
Brogan and Melanie Stokes will executive produce the project for Kindle and Sue Nott will exec for CBBC.
