Sarah Phelps, known for her spine-tingling psychological thrillers, is bringing her storytelling prowess to ITV for the first time with "Daughter." This exciting project marks a new chapter for one of the BBC’s most prolific modern screenwriters. Phelps is teaming up with Dominic Treadwell-Collins' Happy Prince, and this news comes hot on the heels of her BAFTA win for "The Sixth Commandment."
"Daughter" promises to be a gripping contemporary tale that asks, "How far would you go to protect your children – and how well do you really know them?" The story centers on two mothers from very different backgrounds and their teenage daughters, whose friendship turns toxic after a bullying accusation. As the mothers fiercely defend their daughters, tensions escalate, tearing families apart and sending shockwaves through the community.
Here are some highlights:
- Psychological thriller by Sarah Phelps
- Focus on parental protection and dark secrets
- Two mothers, two daughters, one explosive conflict
Phelps shared her enthusiasm for the project, saying, “I've been thinking about these tricky, complex characters for such a long time and I'm thrilled to get the opportunity to tell this story of the lies we tell ourselves about the people we love the most.”
ITV commissioning editor Helen Ziegler praised Phelps as “an extraordinary voice of our times,” while Treadwell-Collins hailed her as “one of our greatest contemporary screenwriters.” The duo previously collaborated on projects like the BBC’s "A Very English Scandal" and "EastEnders."
Phelps' recent success includes a Best Mini-Series BAFTA win for "The Sixth Commandment," a dramatic portrayal of the deaths of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin in a quiet UK town. This drama also secured Timothy Spall a Best Actor award. Both Phelps and Spall have since embarked on new projects, with Spall leading the BBC’s "Death Valley."
Renowned for her Agatha Christie adaptations such as "The ABC Murders" starring John Malkovich, "And Then There Were None," and "Ordeal By Innocence," Phelps has passed the torch for the latest adaptation, "Murder is Easy," to Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, while Rachel Bennette will adapt the next one.
"Daughter" is the second ITV drama announced by Deadline in the past 24 hours, following the adaptation of Tom Bradby’s "Secret Service." It will be distributed by ITV Studios, with Treadwell-Collins and Alexander Lamb serving as executive producers.
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