New TV drama The Durrells is currently in pre-production for ITV. Produced by Sid Gentle Films, the 6 x 60 production is an adaptation of Gerald Durrell’s The Corfu Trilogy memoirs.

The show will star Keeley Hawes as Louisa Durrell and Leslie Caron as Countess Mavrodaki. The script was penned by Simon Nye (Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This, Just William, Men Behaving Badly) and is produced by BAFTA award winning filmmaker Sally Woodward Gentle (Whitechapel, Any Human Heart, Enid).

Set in 1935, the story surrounds Louisa Durrell’s troubles as her household funds are dangerously low after the passing of her husband, and her four unruly children are running amuck in the community and the household.

Keeley Hawes said on the new series: “I’m delighted to be playing Louisa Durrell. As a lifelong fan of Gerald Durrell’s wonderful books, I can’t wait to start filming and telling his stories through Simon Nye’s hilarious and poignant adaptation.”

Production Intelligence features further information on this production including the executive producers, writer, producer, line producer and production designer.