‘Mammoth Screen has optioned TV rights to Strangeways (Pan Macmillan) by Neil Samworth, “a jaw-dropping, page-turning account of life in one of the country’s most notorious jails” from a former prison officer, for a multi-part, returnable television series.
Managing director Damien Timmer and head of business affairs Melanie Morris acquired rights from James Carroll at Diane Banks Associates with a “substantial” pre-empt ahead of publication on 14th June 2018.
The book was bought by editorial director Ingrid Connell at Pan Macmillan for imprint Sidgwick & Jackson from Martin Redfern at Diane Banks Associates.
Audio rights have also been sold to W F Howes. International book rights are being handled by Martin Redfern at Diane Banks Associates who found Strangeways on the agency’s slush pile of unsolicited manuscripts.
Strangeways is a “shocking and darkly funny” account of life in a high-security prison. As staffing cuts saw Britain’s prison system descend into crisis, the stress of the job – the suicides, the inhumanity of the system and one assault too many – left Samworth suffering from PTSD.
Mammoth Screen is the producer of “Poldark”, ‘Ordeal By Innocence” and “Victoria”.’
Via The Bookseller
The Book to Screen Club 