TV adaptation for Zadie Smith's Swing Time

Zadie Smith's just-published novel Swing Time (Hamish Hamilton) has secured a TV deal with Steve Coogan’s production company Baby Cow.

Baby Cow, which was behind Oscar-nominated movie “Philomena”, acquired TV adaptation rights from Katie Haines at The Agency, in association with Georgia Garrett at Rogers, Coleridge & White.

Smith is on board to adapt the book herself, alongside Nick Laird, according to Variety.

Christine Langan, former head of BBC Films, who took the role of c.e.o. this month, said: "Zadie Smith is the voice of a generation, and Swing Time is a thrillingly ambitious story of friendship, rivalry and fame. We're delighted and honored at Baby Cow to be developing such a unique project and we can't wait to share it with TV audiences everywhere."

Smith said: "I am absolutely delighted at the prospect of working with Baby Cow on an adaptation of Swing Time. Their extraordinary track record in both drama and comedy I have always admired from afar and it's a thrill for me to get the chance to collaborate with Steve Coogan and Christine Langan."

Swing Time, which came out on Tuesday (15th November), is about the friendship of two girls who grow up together and dream of becoming dancers, and their ultimately diverging paths. Set between London and West Africa, it explores issues of race and class, and international development.