The six-part series follows the lives of the Lyons, a busy Manchester family, over 15 years in a Britain rocked by unstable political, economic and technological advances.
Daniel’s getting married to Ralph. Stephen and Celeste worry about their kids. Rosie’s chasing a new fella. Edith hasn’t been home for years. All presided over by Gran, the imperial Muriel. But when their lives all converge on one crucial night in 2019, the story accelerates into the future, following the lives and loves of the Lyons over the next 15 years.
And what a world! Everything we fear, and everything we hope for, happening around this tight-knit family. Society gets hotter, faster, madder, with the turmoil of politics, technology and distant wars affecting the Lyons in their day-to-day lives.
Britain withdraws from Europe, America becomes a lone wolf, China asserts itself, and a new world begins to form. But someone’s taking advantage, as MP Vivienne Rook begins her rise to power - that new breed of politician, an entertainer, a rebel, a trickster and a terror, leading us into an unknown future. Set against this, the Lyons have to navigate their everyday hopes and fears, knowing that one ordinary family could never change the world. Or could they?
Speaking about the new series, Russell T Davies says “I’ve wanted to write this for 20 years or so. And as the world accelerates like crazy around us, I realised I’d better get on with it! It’s a joy to be back home with RED, and an honour to be on BBC One.”
Founder and executive producer of RED Production Company, Nicola Shindler, says “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Russell again, and Years and Years is an incredibly exciting story to bring to the screen.
The script is fantastic, and taps into the anxieties of the climate we are currently living in, speculating how the dynamics of cultural and political change affects our lives - and the lives of our families.
What Russell does so expertly is navigate a potentially dark and fearful story into a compelling drama that is full of wit, warmth and hope, with family at the heart of the show. I can’t wait to get started.”
The drama marks the ninth collaboration between and RED’s Nicola Shindler, whose working relationship spans over 20 years. The partnership is known for producing relevant and timely emotionally charged dramas having previously created hit series including Queer As Folk, Casanova, Cucumber, Banana, Bob & Rose and The Second Coming.
Casting will be announced in due course, and the series is expected to go into production later this year.