BBC1 lands air force drama

BBC1 in the UK has ordered a five-part Second World War drama as part of the broadcaster’s recent partnership with funding body Northern Ireland Screen.

My Mother and Other Strangers follows the loves and fortunes of a rural family as they struggle to maintain a normal life after 4,000 US servicemen and women arrive at a recently built air force base.

The 5×60′ show is being written by Barry Devlin (Ballykissangel, Darling Buds of May) and will be produced by BBC Northern Ireland, with funding from Northern Ireland Screen.

The commission is the first since the pubcaster signed the Northern Ireland Screen Partnership Agreement in March, which sees the BBC and Northern Ireland Screen investing in shows to further develop the Northern Irish production industry.

Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, said the programme had “the perfect historically based premise to produce strong drama set here but for international audiences as well as UK and Irish audiences.”

It has been commissioned by Charlotte Moore, controller of BBC1, and Ben Stephenson, outgoing controller of BBC drama commissioning. Stephen Wright, head of drama for BBC Northern Ireland, exec produces.