0 3 mins 12 yrs

Sky 1 HD  has commissioned new family drama Moonfleet a, 2 X 60 minute part adaptation of the classic John Meade Falkner story from the award-winning Company Pictures.

Written by Ashley Pharoah (Life On Mars, Ashes to Ashes) the much-loved adventure is set in the small Dorset village of Moonfleet. In the story young John Trenchard is haunted by dreams of the legendary Blackbeard and captivated by the whereabouts of his fabled diamond. Desperate to join the local band of smugglers, a turn of events unites him with Elzevir, the leader of the gang. Together they embark on a danger-filled adventure to locate Blackbeard’s most treasured possession.

Anne Mensah, Head of Drama, Sky commented: MOONFLEET is one of those unusual classic titles which people have heard of but that hasn’t been done to death. This allows us to make it feel unique to Sky, to please people who grew up with the story but also to bring in a new generation of viewers who might not be so familiar with the text. And of course it is going to be a Sky drama so expect big action as well as smugglers, fights, ghosts, diamond hunting and a father/son story which should totally and unashamedly capture your heart. Huge thanks to Company Pictures and Ashley Pharoah for bringing such a fantastic story to life for us”.

Charlie Pattinson, Executive Producer, Company Pictures, said:  “MOONFLEET is a wonderful action adventure story – driven by smuggling raids, shipwrecks and a warm hearted love story. We are delighted to be working with Sky again and share their ambition to produce this well loved story on an epic scale.”

Commissioned by Anne Mensah, Head of Drama, Sky 1 HD, Executive Produced by Huw Kennair-Jones for Sky and Charlie Pattinson, Claire Ingham, Ashley Pharoah and Patrick Spence for Company Pictures. The programme is directed by Daniel Percival (Strike Back and Waking the Dead) and produced by Andrew Benson.

Filming of Moonfleet will begin later this year and will be shown exclusively on Sky 1 HD and Sky 1 in 2013.