Sarah Waters’ bestselling historical novel The Paying Guests is finally heading to the screen, with In My Skin and Killing Eve writer Kayleigh Llewellyn attached to develop the adaptation for BBC Studios Fiction.
Published in 2014, The Paying Guests is the only one of Waters’ novels that has not previously been adapted for television or film. The new project is currently in development, with no broadcaster or streaming platform attached yet.
What Is ‘The Paying Guests’ About?
The story takes readers to London in 1922, where Frances Wray and her mother are forced to take in lodgers as their financial circumstances change.
Their new tenants, married couple Lilian and Leonard Barber, initially seem to offer a practical solution to the family’s problems. But the relationship between Frances and Lilian soon develops into a secret romance, changing the dynamics inside the household.
What begins as a forbidden love story gradually takes a much darker turn. The relationship becomes entangled with violence and crime, ultimately leading to a murder and a tense court case.
The combination of period drama, romance and crime gives the adaptation a broad genre appeal while retaining the social and emotional tensions at the heart of Waters’ novel.
Who Is Adapting ‘The Paying Guests’?
Kayleigh Llewellyn is writing the series adaptation. Her television credits include In My Skin and Killing Eve, while she is also attached to the upcoming BBC series The Dream Lands.
The project is being developed by BBC Studios Fiction, the label established as part of BBC Studios’ expanding scripted operation. At this stage, the production does not have an announced network or streaming home.
The adaptation marks an unusual moment in Sarah Waters’ screen career. The author’s novels have already provided the source material for several acclaimed productions, including the BBC’s Tipping the Velvet and The Night Watch, as well as Fingersmith and Affinity.
Fingersmith also served as the inspiration for acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook’s 2016 film The Handmaiden.
With The Paying Guests, Waters’ complete novel catalogue will now have been developed for the screen in some form.
When Will ‘The Paying Guests’ Series Premiere?
There is no release date yet for The Paying Guests. The project is currently at the development stage, and BBC Studios Fiction has not announced a broadcaster, streaming platform or cast.
Further details about the adaptation are expected as the series moves forward.
