Romantic comedy drama You & Me coming to ITV
- You & Me is a new ITV comedy drama about three separate characters who have experienced tragedies
- Written by Casualty star Jamie Davis, the series is "a story about finding love when you least expect it"
- Executive producer Russell T Davies says: "I read 100s of scripts, but this one shone out from the rest"
ITV has commissioned a romantic comedy drama series. You & Me focuses on three separate characters who have all experienced tragedies.
Featuring the tagline "I thought I'd never feel happy again. But I was wrong. Things can change", the comedy drama has been written by actor Jamie Davis - his first screenwriting commission. Davis, who has appeared in Misfits and Shameless, is perhaps best known to viewers for appearing as porter Max Walker (pictured) in over 150 episodes of Casualty.
Three hour-long episodes of You & Me are being made, executive produced by former EastEnders producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins and It's A Sin creator Russell T Davies.
ITV explains: "You & Me is a story about finding love when you least expect it. Jess, Ben and Emma all experience tragedies they feel they will never overcome - Ben has the worst time of his life on the day he becomes a father, Jess misses a bus and changes her life forever, and the day Emma gets offered her dream job her nightmare begins... Can they find hope and love again in the future - or will the past always keep holding them back?
"A romantic comedy drama with all the hooks and twists of a thriller, You & Me is told over two separate timelines as we see the story of before and after those fateful days for Ben, Jess and Emma. Examining love in all its guises, You & Me is about parents and children, siblings and exes, sex and friendship - and how it's possible to move on from devastating trauma and learn to love again."
Filming for You & Me is expected to begin later this summer, with casting revealed nearer the time.
Jamie Davis says: "As a writer, my aim is to tell authentic stories with heart and humour. To be telling a love story that mixes the genres of romantic comedy, domestic drama and thriller is incredibly exciting - and to be doing so with people of such calibre, talent and renown on my first commission is more than I could ever have wished for."
Russell T Davies says: "I read 100s of scripts, but this one shone out from the rest. It's an honour to help Jamie get this to the screen - it's funny, fast, clever and heart breaking, everything you want a drama to be!"
Dominic Treadwell-Collins is producing the show via his new production company Happy Prince. He previously collaborated with T Davies on A Very English Scandal, the drama starring Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw. Speaking about this new show, he comments: "Jamie's writing is filled with such humour, heart and soul - so it feels fitting that You & Me is the first commission for Happy Prince. It's properly joyful and inspiring to work with Russell again and begin a creative relationship with a talent like Jamie."
ITV commissioner Polly Hill concludes: "Jamie's scripts are brilliant, and a wonderfully original love story. He is a such a talented writer and I am so pleased to give him his first commission, and for this to be Dom's first show for ITV. With Russell also involved this promises to be an unmissable drama."