Lime conjures up Apprentice Witch series

James Nicol’s The Apprentice Witch

UK prodco Lime Pictures has optioned James Nicol’s children’s book trilogy The Apprentice Witch for its new kids’ division.

All3Media-owned Lime’s newly formed children’s branch will adapt the trio of books (The Apprentice Witch, A Witch Alone and upcoming A Witch Come True) into a live-action drama for eight- to 12-year-olds. Lime has secured the rights from publisher Chicken House Books.

Nicol’s novels centre on Arianwyn who, despite intense preparation, very publicly fails her witch’s evaluation. She is subsequently billeted to a remote village to serve and protect its inhabitants as their district witch, but the innocuous-looking place is not all it seems.

Angelo Abela and Tim Compton, joint heads of kids, will oversee the project for Lime and will aim to emulate the success of the company’s shows including youth-skewing Netflix series Free Rein, The Evermoor Chronicles (Disney), House of Anubis (Nickelodeon) and Rockets Island (CBBC).