Capes debut snapped up by Call The Midwife producers

The screen rights for Kirsty Capes’ debut novel Careless (Orion) have been optioned by Neal Street Productions, the company behind "Call the Midwife".

Careless, which will be published on 13th May 2021, will follow Bess, a "flawed, feisty and fearless" heroine, who is in foster care and pregnant at 15. It is a coming-of-age novel exploring female friendship, the care experience and following your dreams against the odds, said the publisher. A deal for screen rights was signed with Anwen Hooson at Bird Literary Agency.

Nicolas Brown, director of film & TV at Neal Street, said: "Creatively, there are few pieces of material we have responded to as strongly as we have to Careless. We continually came back to the strength of the book’s unique tone and take on a coming-of-age story, its vivid and memorable characters, the wonderful central friendship at its heart, and the important insight into the care system and meaning of family. We are thrilled to have secured the option and believe Kirsty’s extraordinary novel has all the ingredients to become an exceptional drama for the screen."

Capes, who works in the marketing department at Mills and Boon and, as a care leaver herself, commented: "I am so delighted that Careless has found its home with Neal Street. I was totally bowled over by their passion and vision for the book—they feel like the perfect team to bring Bess’s story to the screen."