THE BBC is to film a feature-length TV drama in Ireland about the life of controversial British pianist Joyce Hatto.
Loving Miss Hattowill be worth an estimated €2 million to the sector and will employ 100 people directly and 200 indirectly when filming at locations in Co Dublin and Wicklow starts in mid-April.
This latest project brings the number of BBC dramas filming in Ireland this year to three, following the announcement earlier this month that Ripper Street, an eight-part drama on the hunt for Jack the Ripper, and the second series of police comedy Vexed, are also to be shot here. The projects bring British TV drama spending in the Irish economy to €13 million for the first quarter of the year.
Hatto became famous late in life when her husband, record producer William Barrington-Coupe, released a series of commercial recordings made by other pianists in her name.
The reclusive pianist, who died in 2006, was apparently unaware of the deception perpetrated in her name at the time of her death.
The script for the 90-minute drama, which is to be shot over four weeks, was written by British comedian Victoria Wood.
Francesca Annis and Alfred Molina have been cast in the lead roles. Aisling Walsh, whose credits include Song For a Raggy Boyand Trial & Retribution, will direct.
The project is being jointly produced by British company Left Bank Films, makers of The Queenand The Damned United, and Bray-based Octagon Films, the company behind The Tudorsand Raw.
The project is being part-financed by the Irish Film Board.
