ITV has commissioned a 3-part relationship drama, set in Manchester and the Isle of Man.
Maryland has been created by Suranne Jones alongside screenwriter, Anne-Marie O’Connor.
It focuses on 2 sisters, who’ve grown apart over the years, but through tragic events, love to learn and respect each other again.
“I’m so excited to be working with Anne Marie on this project. We both immediately knew how we wanted this story to unfold and to have the support from ITV and Monumental Television to let us tell it in our own way has been a breath of fresh air,” explained Jones.
“Maryland delves into family dynamics and the way in which we ‘label’ each other, sometimes never letting ourselves or our siblings break free from those roles. We look at how we grow apart from one another and how sometimes we don’t really know anything about the people we call our own.
ITV Studios’ Monumental Television (Harlots, Ghosts, Murder in Provence), will produce the drama, with Jones both starring and executive producing, through her own company, Teamakers Productions.
Anne-Marie O’Connor created Trollied, as well as being the writer and executive producer of the comedy, Hullraisers. However, this is her first UK drama commission.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Suranne and Monumental on Maryland and for ITV to have given us the opportunity to write a character-led show, at the heart of which is a love story about two sisters,” she said.
“From the start, Suranne and I have wanted to tell a story about the roles that are ascribed to us in families – especially as women – and to look at the legacy of a woman who decided to step away from the traditional role but wasn’t honest about her decision.”
Maryland has been commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill and Commissioner Chloe Tucker.
