Monastic Productions are to continue a strong relationship with the BBC, following news of a major period supernatural series being commissioned via the corporation’s UK and US arms. Established by Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham (creators of Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes), their latest will be The Living And The Dead. Incorporating solid ingredients of Victoriana and the unexplained, the drama concerns the exploits of Nathan Appleby, a gentleman farmer in Somerset 1888, who develops an increasingly dangerous interest in the occult. This sounds like a mash up between The Village and Paranormal Activity and is the sort of high concept pitch BBC Wales/BBC America hope will fly the British flag abroad after the transatlantic achievements of Doctor Who over the past few years.
Graham contributed some scripts to that world famous brand, in addition making a short-lived US version of Life On Mars. While the team hit ratings gold with the adventures of Gene Hunt, they’ve fared less well since, giving us disastrous archaeological horror format Bonekickers and tepid legal fantasy effort Eternal Law for ITV. Their enthusiasm for this forthcoming project however is encouraging:
We are as excited about this show as anything since ‘Life On Mars’ and ‘Ashes to Ashes’ — we want it to be moving, tender, sensual… and very, very scary.
Production gets underway next year with cast and episodes to be announced.
Source: Variety
