Lime Pictures to adapt James Nicol trilogy

Lime Pictures, the TV production company behind Hollyoaks and the Netflix children’s hit Free Rein, is to adapt James Nicol’s ‘The Apprentice Witch’ trilogy.

Angelo Abela and Tim Compton, joint head of kids at Lime, and Barry Cunningham, m.d. of Chicken House, announced the deal, which will see Lime adapt the three books into a live action drama for children aged 8-12. The rights were acquired from Cunningham and The Viney Shaw Agency.

The trilogy is about Arianwyn, who has spent her young life preparing for her witch’s evaluation, only to fail it in a very public way. As the artillery of war rumbles in the distance, Arianwyn is billeted to the remote village of Lull, to serve and protect the villagers as their district witch.

Abela and Compton said in a statement: “The Apprentice Witch has warmth and style in abundance, from its immediately lovable characters to its nostalgic setting. And Arianwyn is the perfect role model for anyone fighting to express their true gifts. She doesn't fit the mold, so she's going to have to break it – in a journey of self-discovery that's perfect for a family audience.”