The four-part drama has commenced filming in Yorkshire.
Karla-Simone Spence leads the cast in the role of Frannie Langton, the drama’s young protagonist born into a life of slavery who is fighting to tell her own story. She is joined by Sophie Cookson as Madame Marguerite Benham and Patrick Martins as Laddie Lightning and in the line-up for the murder mystery drama.
Also set to star in the historically authentic adaptation is Stephen Campbell Moore as renowned scientist and husband to Madame, George Benham. Joining him is Steven MacIntosh (Rocketman, Wanderlust) as John Langton and Henry Pettigrew as William Pettigrew.
Initially announced in August 2020 the drama is set against the dazzling opulence of Georgian London, The Confessions of Frannie Langton, narrates Frannie’s journey from a Jamaican plantation to the grand Mayfair mansion of celebrated scientist George Benham and his exquisitely beautiful wife, Madame Marguerite Benham. In a misguided and monstrous gesture Frannie is gifted to Benham by the man who owns her, John Langton, and she is employed as a maid in the household much to her chagrin.
As the plot twists and turns, events take a fateful turn as the Benhams are found murdered in their beds, with Frannie lying next to Marguerite. Frannie is accused of murder; a murder she has no recollection of, other than she couldn’t possibly have killed her mistress because she was devoted to her. Dragged away to prison, Frannie attempts to piece together the events of that night. She is deep into a laudanum addiction and unable to recall what happened.
Will Frannie recall the haunting events of that night? All she knows is she loved Marguerite passionately and cannot believe she would have hurt her. But if not Frannie, who did commit the double murder? Others have motive, but only Frannie is accused and she will hang if found guilty. What hope does she have of clearing her name? The brilliantly searing depiction of race, class, and oppression is written and adapted for the screen by the author, Sara Collins, who won the Costa first novel award in 2019 for her haunting tale of Frannie Langton.
Air dates are yet to be decided.
