Lime Pictures option Gould-Bourn debut for TV

James Gould-Bourn’s debut novel Keeping Mum (Trapeze) has been optioned for a TV series by triple Emmy-winners Lime Pictures.

The novel, to be published on 11th June 2020, tells the story of Danny Malooley and his 11-year-old son, Will, who hasn't spoken since the death of his mother in a car crash 14 months ago.

After seeing street performers in his local park apparently raking it in, he spends his last fiver on a costume and becomes a dancing panda. When Danny spots his son being bullied in the park and goes to his rescue, Will talks to him for the first time since his mother's death, unaware that the panda is in fact his father.  Nervous of revealing his true identity in case Will stops talking to him, Danny befriends his son in the panda disguise. But Danny can't keep up the ruse forever.

TV rights were optioned in a deal brokered by Marc Simonsson at SoloSon Media.

Gould-Bourn, a former writer for Bored Panda, said: "I'm so thrilled that Lime Pictures will produce Keeping Mum for the TV. I can't wait to see Danny, Will, and the rest of the cast on screen, and I know that Lime will do a brilliant job of bringing their story to life." 

Lime Pictures is the company behind Hollyoaks and Emmy award-winning Netflix series "Free Rein". The "Keeping Mum" series will be developed by executive producer Louise Sutton, who won an Emmy for the “Black Mirror” episode “USS Callister”.

Sutton, head of drama and YA for Lime Pictures said: “Keeping Mum is such a beautiful story and a very special novel. James is a talented storyteller who has a gift for perfectly complimenting raw emotion with warmth and humour.  We are very excited to have secured this story and are looking forward to bringing the characters to life.”

Trapeze editor Katie Brown, who acquired the book from Joanna Swainson at Hardman & Swainson, said: “Keeping Mum, an outrageously funny and brave book, was a tonic to read, and I cannot wait to see the joy it will bring to viewers when it finally hits the screen. James has a natural talent for balancing emotional warmth and dry wit, and I know it will translate beautifully.”