Channel 4 scores first TV series from How to Have Sex writer and director Molly Manning Walker

Channel 4 in the UK has commissioned a drama from producer A24 that marks the first TV series from award-winning writer and director Molly Manning Walker.

Molly Manning Walker

Co-written by Manning Walker (How To Have Sex) and Yasmin Joseph (A Thousand Blows), Major Players (6×30′) follows two girls on the brink of adulthood and their mission to start a women’s football team.

Inspired by Manning Walker’s experiences at school, the series is described as a love letter to football and a funny and wild exploration of young people in London today, tackling topics from friendship to gender politics.

It comes after Manning Walker’s debut feature film How to Have Sex was developed by Channel 4-owned Film4 and won the Un Certain Regard Award at the Cannes Film Festival and the European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI at the European Film Awards. The film also earned two BAFTA nominations for Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.

Yasmin Joseph

Manning Walker is also the co-founder of Babe City FC, a London-based Sunday league football team for women and non-binary people in the film industry – a club of over 180 members.

Manning Walker said: “It is a coming-of-age story, filled with first love, grief and bicycle kicks set in your local cage. I’m excited to shine a light on women’s football, which I’m a huge fan and supporter of.”

Major Players was commissioned by Ollie Madden, director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama; Gwawr Lloyd, commissioning editor, Channel 4 Drama; and Farhana Bhula, deputy director and head of creative, Film4.

The series will be made by A24 and the producer is Matthew Mulot (Baby Reindeer). Manning Walker will direct and executive produce. Channel 4 said casting details will be announced in due course.