Brief Encounters: ITV Orders New Ann Summers UK Drama

Things are about to get spicy over at ITV. Recently, the UK network announced they’ve commissioned Brief Encounters, a female-led series about the lingerie business.

Created by Fay Rusling and Oriane Messina, the drama is based on the founding of popular British lingerie retailer Ann Summers.

Brief Encounters will feature six episodes that center on a group of four women who get into the exotic lingerie business in the 1980s. The show is slated to premiere in 2016.

No word on whether the series will air in the United States.

Here’s the official announcement:

A fresh, frank and funny new drama for 2016.

Take four women all struggling to find happiness and fulfilment, add a touch of glamour, gutsy humour and a desire to improve their lot in life and Brief Encounters is born.

Produced by BAFTA award winning indie CPL Productions, Brief Encounters is created and written by Fay Rusling and Oriane Messina (Green Wing, Me & Mrs Jones), and executive produced by CPL’s Arabella McGuigan and Danielle Lux alongside the writer-creators.

Set in the early ‘80s, the six-part series introduces Steph, Pauline, Nita and Dawn as unlikely entrepreneurs who begin to sell exotic lingerie – to the dismay (and often delight) of their loved ones.

Steph is an invisible girl until Ann Summers comes into her life.  It ignites the ambition she didn’t know she had and grows her confidence.  Married to Terry and with a young son, Steph strives to make something extra of her life.  Her chance meeting with Nita in the school playground kick starts a sequence of events that will change both of their lives.  Mother of four, Nita is a mix of grit and warmth, struggling to run a household with a husband whom she adores but who frequently strays to the wrong side of the law, despite his devotion to his family.

Pauline is the oldest of the gang, in her 50s, who jumps in at the deep end and agrees to host a party for Steph to salve her loneliness. Pauline‘s sunny disposition hides a secret sadness. She and her husband, Alan deeply love each other but their relationship has suffered whilst he’s concentrated on building his business. It’s through Ann Summers that Pauline steps out from the shadows.

Young Dawn has a lust for life, and although bubbly and outgoing, since her mother died she has been trapped, looking after her father and three brothers who all take her for granted. The bug of earning serious cash with the other women gives her the incentive to finally realise her dreams with fiancé, Russell.

The series is inspired by chapters telling the story of the early days of the Ann Summers party plan business found in ‘Good Vibrations’, Jacqueline Gold’s memoir.

Brief Encounters has been commissioned for ITV by Director of Drama Steve November and Head of Drama Series Jane Hudson.

“Brief Encounters is a refreshingly different domestic drama taking us back to the wonderful world of the 1980s,” said Steve.  “We’re really excited by this commission – it’s full of heart, story and great new characters and we’re very much looking forward to working with Danielle Lux, Arabella McGuigan and their production team at CPL.”

Executive Producer Arabella McGuigan commented: “Brief Encounters is gutsy, emotional, warm and surprising.  Like the real Ann Summers saleswomen, through their camaraderie our women discover hidden strengths and an ability to come out fighting no matter what life throws at you. As wives, mothers and businesswomen they unleash talent and ambition – and they blossom. Fay and Oriane have crafted fascinating characters who are both dramatic and funny and we’re sure will appeal to an ITV audience.”

CPL’s managing director Danielle Lux said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be producing our first drama for ITV.  CPL takes great pride in producing television with heart and soul and Brief Encounters has that in spades.”

To a soundtrack of music from the era, Brief Encounters will commence filming in February 2016, with casting currently underway.”