BBC developing country house period drama

Black Diamonds, based on a book charting the Fitzwilliam’s coalmining dynasty, will trace the story of the family that built Wentworth House before being forced to abandon the stately home.

According to The Sunday Times, Catherine Bailey’s historical book, Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, is being adapted by Appropriate Adult writer Neil McKay.

“We should be so lucky if it’s as popular as Downton [Abbey] - that would be fantastic,” said Mentorn Media head of drama and former Channel 4 film commissioner David Aukin. “It would be wonderful to film there [at Wentworth],”.

 ITV’s landmark drama will conclude after its upcoming sixth series with a Christmas Day finale.

Daybreak Pictures is the producer behind ITV’s upcoming biopic Churchill’s Secret, starring Sir Michael Gambon. It also produced BBC2’s The Politician’s Husband and Channel 4 series Sirens.