Hermione Norris to star in Kay Mellor's BBC pregnancy drama

Hermione Norris has been cast in a new BBC drama about pregnancy, due to arrive next year.

The Spooks actress will star alongside former EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny and Waking The Dead's Tara Fitzgerald for In The Club, according to The Sun.

From Bafta-winning writer Kay Mellor, who also penned Fat Friends and The Syndicate, the six-part series follows six couples through their pregnancies.

Also appearing in In The Club are Katherine Parkinson, Will Mellor, Jonathan Kerrigan, Christine Bottomley and Luke Thompson.

Kay said: "This subject is very dear to my heart. Having given birth at 16 and been absolutely terrified, I'm able to lay a few personal ghosts to rest exploring the ultimate creation.

"The very nature of giving birth is deeply emotional, rich with drama, humour and pathos. It's a life-changing experience.

"I'm really excited by the calibre of the cast we've attracted - I feel flattered and honoured to have such amazing actors bringing my characters to life."

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.