BBC developing World War II period drama 'Whittington Manor'?

The BBC is reportedly developing a new period drama titled Whittington Manor.

The project, based on author Claire Voet's debut novel, follows 16-year-old Sarah Whittington as she finds love in Portsmouth during World War II.

Voet told imediamonkey that an eight-part dramatisation is currently in the works.

"I can confirm that Whittington Manor is in the hands of production companies and one of them being the BBC," she said.

"The first series will be made into eight episodes, and will cover the book in its entirety, with the following series being written by myself and a professional screenwriter from the BBC."

Voet admitted that some comparisons can be made between her series and ITV's hit period drama Downton Abbey.

"[The novel] was likened by critics to current period dramas such as Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs," she said. "But I tried to stay clear of that."

ITV picked up Downton Abbey for a third series in November.

TV historian Simon Schama recently criticised the Golden Globe-winning series, branding it "cultural necrophilia".

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