This July marks 50 years since England won the World Cup in 1966, and ITV has commissioned a new three-part drama about the football team’s captain Bobby Moore.
Based on the memoir by Bobby’s wife Tina, Bobby Moore: By The Person Who Knew Him Best, the drama tells the story of the England and West Ham legend’s life with his childhood sweetheart, Tina Dean, following them from their humble beginnings to the dizzy heights of superstardom.
After England’s historic in the home-held tournament, Bobby and Tina became the nation’s ‘golden couple’ long before Posh and Becks appeared on the scene.
Tina and Bobby is the story of about a girl from Essex who fell in love with an ordinary boy, who just happened to be an extraordinarily talented footballer.
Tina, an ordinary girl from Essex, first met Bobby when she was 15 and bunked off school to go to the Ilford Palais with her cousin Jenny. At the time, Bobby, was only 17 and although he was an emerging talent in football, he was yet to make a first team appearance.
Tina ended up marrying Bobby on 30 June 1962 with former West Ham and Manchester United full back Noel Cantwell as Bobby’s Best Man and flamboyant football manager Malcolm Allison and the West Ham team in the congregation.
As Tina found her feet in the glamorous world of football and celebrity, Bobby’s career flourished. But in 1965, the couple were dealt a devastating blow when Bobby was diagnosed with testicular cancer. With the World Cup approaching, it looked as if Bobby wouldn’t be able to but beat the odds to fight his way back to fitness. The rest, as they say, is history!
But when Bobby’s career waned and his business ventures failed, the cracks began to show, leaving Tina to realise that their biggest challenges were yet to come…
Written by Lauren Klee, whose previous TV credits include EastEnders, Waterloo Road and Holby City, it will be produced by Spencer Campbell (Cold Feet, Mad Dogs, Murder in the Outback). Kieran Roberts, the former producer of Emmerdale and Coronation Street, will be the executive producer.
Although the cast hasn't been announce yet, the drama will start filming in Manchester in the summer.
“Tina and Bobby became national sweethearts in a time when the whole of Britain seemed youthful, successful and optimistic,” said ITV’s controller of drama Steve November, who commissioned the series. “The Moore’s were the first celebrity football couple and the nation fell in love with them. Tina and Bobby is a personal and frank insight into their lives and we’re delighted to commission the drama from Kieran Roberts and ITV Studios.”
Kieran added: “Most people will know the story of Bobby Moore’s achievements as captain of club and country – the only Englishman ever to lift the football World Cup,” said Executive Producer for ITV Studios, Kieran Roberts. “Far fewer will know the story of his life with Tina – a love story every bit as dramatic and epic as Bobby’s exploits on the pitch. We are thrilled to be dramatising Tina and Bobby’s amazing story for ITV.”
