Wonderhood Studios to produce factual-infused piece centring on Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband’s crimes

Wonderhood Studios has landed its second factual drama for 5 to tell the story of how Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell embezzled £400,000 from the Scottish National Party over 12 years.

To Nicola, Love Peter (w/t) follows Wonderhood’s hit debut Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, which has been watched by 4.3m viewers to date, according to 5.

For its next project Wonderhood will draw on evidence gathered by Police Scotland and The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to tell the story of the now estranged political couple, as well as extensive TV and newspaper interviews with former Scottish first minister Sturgeon and other key protagonists.

At the end of 2022, Sturgeon was Scotland’s most popular and longest serving political leader, but within months her career would be left in tatters after police arrested her husband in April 2023.

The SNP leader would later discover that her husband had deceived her for more than a decade, falsifying receipts and using secret codes to embezzle close to half a million pounds to fund a compulsive shopping habit spanning luxury household goods, watches, a motorhome and bespoke salt and pepper grinders. In May, Murrell pleaded guilty and was sent to prison for over 5 years.

The series was ordered by consultant editor for commissioning at 5 Guy Davies and commissioning editor Paul Testar, who also ordered the Huw Edwards single.

Executive chairman of Wonderhood David Abraham said the commission “reflects our growing ambition to develop quality dramas about contemporary stories”.

5 chief content officer Ben Frow added: “This is an epic tale of Shakespearean proportions.

“We will be pulling together the events and characters involved to create a compelling revealing drama, as well as answering that very important question – why would anyone pay £2,000 for a pair of salt & pepper grinders…?!”

To Nicola, Love Peter (w/t) is directed by Bafta-nominated Misha Manson-Smith and is written by Scottish Bafta-nominated Lucy Brydon.

The story producer is Hannah Richards and director of production is Lianne Hickey. The executive producers are Tom Anstiss, Tom Garton, Samantha Anstiss and Manson-Smith.

The cast of the drama is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.