BBC adapting Marilyn Kaye’s “Gifted” Novels for Kids
The BBC will adapt Marilyn Kaye’s Gifted series of books for children and shift the story to Scotland.
Children’s adventure series will now be reimagined into a 10-part drama following a group of diverse young Scottish teens that discover their own unique superpowers. They must work together to protect their loved ones and themselves when they learn that they are being targeted by the powerful Bodkin organization.
Kaye’s six books follow a group American pre-teens. The BBC reported that more than 3,000 Scottish teenagers have applied for the show. It is written by The Worst Witch author Emma Reeves. The show is a co-production of the Glasgow-based Black Camel Pictures with the Paris-based French Media Valley. The show was commissioned by CBBC, in association with NDR/ARD through One Gate Media Germany. Additional support came from Screen Scotland.
BBC Children’s is a big fan of buzzy adaptations, and has recently made versions of Oliver Twist (the original) and The Famous Five.
Sarah Muller is the Senior Head of Commissioning for 7+ BBC Children’s and Education. She said: “Gifted brings audiences high-quality action-filled adventures adapted from the book series in Scotland.” Screen Scotland is helping us to showcase the vibrant Scottish creative industry by bringing in a young Scottish cast with brilliant talent both behind and before the camera.
Arabella Page Croft added that Scottish kids have talent and want to act. We are thrilled to produce this series for CBBC, and to bring these young talent and our beautiful capital to a global audience of young people.
Gifted is part of a BBC Children’s slate that includes a Gladiators spinoff called Epic Pranks, from Hungry Bear and MGM and a Behind-the-Scenes doc about a boarding-school titled Stage Stars.
Patricia Hidalgo is the Director of BBC Children’s and Education. She says, “We will continue to showcase our homegrown dramas and shows which aim to give young viewers an insight in the diverse lives and characters from all over the UK, with unique stories that will resonate with them and their families.”
