Matthew Sweet’s work examines the extraordinary life of iconic romance writer and socialite

Eagle Eye Drama, the ITV Studios label behind Bookish, Patience and Professor T, has secured the adaptation rights to Matthew Sweet’s biography of Barbara Cartland.

‘The Great Dictator’ details the life of the English writer and socialite, known colloquially as the Woman in Pink. Published by Hodder & Stoughton earlier this month, it is the result of years of research into Cartland’s life.

Cartland’s novels have sold close to a billion copies, across 38 different languages. Works such as A Hazard of Hearts and The Bored Bridegroom helped turn romance into big business.

She was also friends with some of the biggest names of the 20^th century, including Winston Churchill, and was the step-grandmother of Princess Diana.

Eagle Eye chief commercial officer Jo McGrath described Cartland as an “indefatigable wordsmith”.

“Known for her outlandish pink chiffon clothes and thick Meltonian black shoe cream mascara, she is a figure who has been loved and scorned in equal measure. Cartland is a rivetingly complex kaleidoscope of contradictions, a gift of a role for a great actress.”

Eagle Eye chief executive Walter Iuzzolino said: “Matthew Sweet gained unparalleled access to the Cartland family archives, and what he has uncovered is a story more compelling and unbelievable than her most outlandish plots – which will provide a wonderful bedrock to build an unmissable scripted series.”

Sweet added the Eagle Eye team “are the perfect producers – they seem to have as much energy as Barbara. Maybe they also take 90 vitamin pills a day”.