BBC3 makes way for new psychological drama

BBC Three has commissioned a new five-part psychological drama, Thirteen written by young rising star Marnie Dickens.

Today is the day Ivy Moxham will escape from the cellar that’s been her prison for the last 13 years. Today is the day she’ll return to her home, to her family, to her life. Today is only the beginning.

Thirteen explores how to pick up the threads of a life half-lived and how to survive as a family under the greatest pressure: how to feel again, chance love again and who to trust when you can’t even trust yourself.

Marnie Dickens says: “I’ve always been fascinated by the resilience of the human spirit in even the most extreme situations and am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this story to life on the BBC.”

Damian Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, says: “I’m delighted Thirteen is coming to BBC Three. Marnie Dickens’ script is compelling, a real page-turner, and I’m looking forward to sharing all the plot twists and turns with the BBC Three audience.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, says: “Bold subject matter, a remarkable young point of view and crucially a new writer’s first original drama. Thirteen is an emotional rollercoaster with shocking twists that gives us a real opportunity to innovate on BBC Three.”

Thirteen is produced by BBC In-House Drama Production, England. Filming will take place in and around Bristol this summer.