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Victoria drama reigns at ITV

UK commercial broadcaster ITV is to air an eight-part historical drama series focusing on the life of Queen Victoria.

Steve November

Steve November

The series follows the early life of the UK’s longest reigning monarch, who leaves childhood behind when she ascends the throne at the age of 18.

Victoria will be made by Poldark indie Mammoth Screen and is created and written by novelist Daisy Goodwin in her screenwriting debut.

Goodwin will also be an exec producer alongside Dan McCulloch (Endeavour, Indian Summers) and Mammoth’s joint MD Damien Timmer (Parade’s End). The project was developed by Mammoth’s creative director Rebecca Keane.

Casting is under way for the drama, which starts filming around the UK from September.

Victoria, ordered by ITV’s director of drama Steve November, will be distributed internationally by ITV Studios Global Entertainment.

ITV, which already holds a 25% stake in Mammoth, is believed to be one of the frontrunners – along with All3Media – to take a controlling stake in the UK producer.

Last week, the broadcaster commissioned a new drama version of JM Barrie’s classic novel Peter Pan as well as an eight-part drama titled Jericho.

Victoria marks the latest large-scale royal drama to produced in the UK. US SVoD service Netflix recently greenlit The Crown, a US$100m drama following the life of Victoria’s great great granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

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