New romantic drama The 7.39 for BBC One

BBC One has commissioned, The 7:39, a new two-part romantic drama from Carnival Films, written by David Nicholls (One Day, Starter For Ten) and starring David Morrissey (The Walking Dead), Sheridan Smith (Mrs Biggs), Olivia Colman (Broadchurch) and Sean Maguire (Scott & Bailey).

Writer, David Nicholls says: “The 7.39 is a love story for grown-ups, the sort of drama that has not been seen on television for a while. I’m delighted to be writing for the BBC again and working with such a terrific cast and production team.”

Carl Matthews (David Morrissey) is stuck. At the age of 45 his life has become routine. Every morning Carl fights his way onto the 7.39 train where he sees the same unhappy faces doing the same daily commute into Waterloo. Happily married to his best friend from college, Maggie (Olivia Colman), with whom he has two healthy, if sullen, teenage kids, life for Carl has become predictable.

Sally Thorn (Sheridan Smith) has recently moved out of London, where she still works as the manager of a health club. But she’s unsure if she likes her new suburban life, or the prospect of marriage to Ryan (Sean Maguire), a handsome personal trainer. Ryan is desperate to start a family, get married, settle down. Sally secretly wonders if he really is the man for her. Not that there’s much time to worry about these things, not while she’s running to catch the 7.39.

Over a fight for a seat Sally and Carl begin talking and suddenly their daily train journeys become a lot more interesting.

The 7.39 is the story of how even the most predictable of lives can, in a fleeting moment, dramatically change course.

Executive Producer, Sally Woodward Gentle, says: “We are excited to be involved in a project not just with David Nicholls but with the extraordinary talent of David Morrissey, Sheridan Smith, Olivia Colman and Sean Maguire. You couldn’t imagine a stronger team. With John Alexander directing and Lynn Horsford producing I think this could be a very magical love story.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller BBC Drama Commissioning, adds: “I’m bowled over by the award-winning and stellar cast starring in The 7.39. But it’s perhaps no surprise given the wonderful scripts by David Nicholls, in his first television drama since his novel, One Day, became a worldwide phenomenon. Like that novel, The 7.39 is laugh out loud funny, painfully truthful, emotionally agonising and brilliantly British!”

The 7:39 is produced by Lynn Horsford, (Any Human Heart, Birdsong), directed by John Alexander (Quirke, White Heat), and executive produced by Gareth Neame and Sally Woodward Gentle.

The 7.39 will air on BBC One