Lonergan’s memoir I’ll Die After Bingo optioned for TV

Production company Expectation has struck a deal with Penguin Random House to develop Pope Lonergan’s memoir I’ll Die After Bingo (Ebury Press) for TV. 

The “tough yet hilarious, intelligent, and honest” account draws on Pope’s decade of caring for the elderly and was nominated for the Chortle Comedy Book Award in 2023.

Lonergan said: “I’m buzzing to be working with Expectation. In the creative industries (ergh) cultivating relationships is really important – and luckily Expectation is full of the nicest, most insightful and talented ‘TV people’ you’ll ever find. I’m very grateful they’ve taken a punt on me (a recovering crack ‘ead Quaker) and my book (a book that includes a line about swallowing boobs). But seriously, I’m excited. The adaptation is going to be both light and dark; uncompromising, poetic and, yes, very funny.” 

Morwenna Gordon, executive producer, scripted, for Expectation, said: “I was completely won over by Pope’s writing. Honest, insightful, empathetic and with laugh-out-loud moments too. I’m so pleased to be working together to adapt this incredible book for TV.” 

Hannah Weatherill, acting head of media rights at Penguin Random House, said: “Pope’s memoir about his work as a carer is extraordinary – he captures the personalities of the residents, their families and his colleagues in all their complexity with incredible empathy and humour. Expectation is a brilliant partner for Pope’s story, and we can’t wait to see it on screens.”