BBC Drama Productions are developing a new eight part series based on Emile Zola”s ‘Au Bonheur des Dames”.

Bill Gallagher has written the drama, moving the setting from Paris to a booming northern English city in the late 1800s.

The story centres on Denise, a girl who gets a job at a glitzy department store – during a time when shopping became exciting and seductive. Life behind the scenes was far from glamorous: staff were often housed in very basic lodgings, and there was plenty of infighting and gossip.

‘The Ladies” Paradise” is executive produced by Sue Hogg. Shooting is due to start around May.

For other news on forthcoming productions, please see The Knowledge”s Production Intelligence.