By Harry Mottram: Residents of Axbridge in Somerset cannot have missed the camera crews and actors closing off streets in the town as the BBC film A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder based on the novel by Holly Jackson is filmed.
Shop names have been changed, road signs popped up, huge arrangements of flowers and wisteria have adorned the doors and window boxes of properties in the town Square and above all the town of Axbridge has been replaced by the fictional community of Little Kilton.
Moonage Pictures are the company behind the filming in Moor Green, the High Street and The Square this month and in June as they transform the town into the set for the mystery set to be screened in six parts later this year on BBC3.
The young adult novel on which the TV series is based on revolves around nerdy Pippa (AKA Pip) who is convinced that a murder suicide that rocked the town five years previously was not all that it seems. The novel – which incidentally is the current book chosen by the Axbridge Book Club to review – is a mix of Pip’s notes and transcripts of conversations with witnesses and of a narrative relaying the detective work of the protagonist. Simplistic in one sense but like all good young adult novels is more complex than first appears with a fleshing out of characters and places.
Poppy Cogan has the task of adapting the novel for the screen which features Emma Myers as Pippa (Pip) Fitz-Amobi and Zain Iqbal as Ravi Singh as the damaged brother of the suspect.
To give a glimpse of the story the publicity states: “Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. Case closed. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But Pippa Fitz-Amobi – our insatiably smart, slightly square heroine – isn’t so sure and she’s determined to prove it. But if Sal Singh isn’t a murderer and the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pippa from the truth?”
So, no spoilers but of course you can always read the novel to find out more.
For the record the cast is scheduled to be:
Emma Myers as Pippa (Pip) Fitz-Amobi (Pictured)
Zain Iqbal as Ravi Singh
Asha Banks as Cara Ward
Yali Topol Margalith as Lauren Gibson
Jude Morgan-Collie as Connor Reynolds
Raiko Gohara as Zach Chen
Notes:
Matthew Read, executive producer for Moonage Pictures, says: “As soon as we read Holly Jackson’s ruthlessly compelling page-turner, we knew it had all the elements for a piece of must-see television. Pip Fitz-Amobi is a unique protagonist and it’s a huge honour to be working with Poppy Cogan in bringing her adventure to screen.”
Fiona Campbell, Controller of BBC Three, says: “Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder is inventive, smart, gripping – and absolutely perfect for the screen. It’s with real delight that we’re teaming with Holly, Poppy Cogan and the Moonage Pictures team to bring this remarkable series to BBC Three.”
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder (6 x 45’) will be written by lead writer Poppy Cogan alongside Zia Ahmed, Ajoke Ibironke and Ruby Thomas, and will be produced by Florence Walker. The series was commissioned by Fiona Campbell, Controller of BBC Three, and Ben Irving, Acting Director of BBC Drama. Executive producers are Matthew Read and Frith Tiplady for Moonage Pictures, Lucy Richer and Ayela Butt for the BBC, and Holly Jackson and Poppy Cogan. Further creative and casting information will be announced in due course. International distribution will be handled by BBC Studios.
Axbridge News is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents
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