Eagle Eye Drama develops series based on life of author Barbara Cartland

ITV Studios-owned prodco Eagle Eye Drama (Bookish) has acquired the rights to Dame Barbara Cartland biography The Great Dictator and will adapt the book into a scripted TV series.

Published by Hodder & Stoughton this month, Matthew Sweet’s book and tells the story of the late romance author, who sold close to a billion copies of her novels in 38 languages around the world.

Founded in 2018 by Walter Iuzzolino, Jo McGrath and Jason Thorp – the creative team behind international drama brand Walter Presents – Eagle Eye has produced drama series such as Patience (Channel 4), Professor T (ITV) and The Couple Next Door (Channel 4).

Luzzolino said: “Matthew Sweet gained unparalleled access to the Cartland family archives, and what he has uncovered is a story more compelling and unbelievable than her most outlandish plots – which will provide a wonderful bedrock to build an unmissable scripted series.”