Mavis Eccleston: Unforgotten writer's 'powerful' ITV drama with Penelope Wilton based on real-life assisted dying case
It's based on a "tragic and extraordinary" true story
Mavis Eccleston, a “powerful” and “timely” new ITV drama from the writer of Unforgotten, will tackle a real-life assisted dying case that saw a woman charged with murder.
It’s proving to be a big year for ITV dramas based on true stories. We’ve already had The Lady, which tackled Fergie’s killer ex-dresser Jane Andrews.
Later this year, Lynley star Daniel Mays will play John Worboys in a drama about the “black cab rapist”.
Now, ITV is developing another real-life drama – and it’s based on the “heartbreaking” story of Mavis and Dennis Eccleston.
What is Mavis Eccleston about?
Mavis Eccleston will be based on the real-life story of its titular widow: a woman who was forced to face a murder trial after surviving a pact to take her life with her late husband, Dennis.
As the ITV logline says, it will tell the “tragic and extraordinary real-life story of a woman who survived a joint suicide pact with the love of her life and husband of nearly 60 years and was subsequently arrested and charged with his murder”.
Dennis had been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in 2015, at the age of 79.
As told in court (via BBC News), he then made the decision not to receive any further treatment, nor did he wish to be resuscitated by medical staff.
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In February 2018, Mavis and Dennis agreed to take their own lives together. He had hoped to travel to Switzerland (where assisted dying is legal), but he was too unwell to travel.
“Our mum did not wish to live without him, her husband, the love of her life, and so she took an overdose together with him,” her daughter, Joy Munns, said.
They both took an overdose of prescription medicine. After they were found at their bungalow in Huntington, both were rushed to hospital, where Mavis recovered.
In the days following Dennis’ death, Mavis was charged with Dennis’ murder. She was accused of giving him a lethal dose without his consent.
She was ultimately cleared of all charges. Mavis’ family have since campaigned with Dignity in Dying and lobbied for a change to UK law.
Who’s in the Mavis Eccleston cast?
Penelope Wilton will play Mavis Eccleston in the new drama. Viewers should recognise her from her roles in Downton Abbey, After Life, and Calendar Girls.
Jonathan Pryce, an Oscar-nominated actor who’s starred in Game of Thrones, The Crown, and the James Bond franchise, will play Dennis. News of further casting “will be announced in due course,” according to an ITV press release.
Wilton said: “Mavis was devoted to her husband, Dennis, their enduring love for each other clear to see to all. They lived life on their own terms and when the time came, she wanted to respect his wishes.
“The fact she then faced the very real prospect of spending the rest of her life in prison for acting out of love is simply unimaginable. To be asked to bring her experience to life is a huge responsibility and true honour.”
Pryce also said: “This is a powerful and timely story of an extraordinary, devoted couple as they face the painful dilemma of assisted dying. We will hopefully honour their deep love for each other and their bravery.”
When is it out?
It’s unclear when Mavis Eccleston will be released, as it doesn’t have an official release date.
Filming is set to begin in Bristol in June this year, so it’s likely that it will air sometime in 2027.
Who’s writing Mavis Eccleston?
Mavis Eccleston will be penned by Chris Lang. He also wrote Unforgotten, A Mother’s Son, and The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe.
“From the moment Mavis and Dennis’s extraordinary story was told to me, I knew I had to write the script. But, maybe not for the reasons one might suspect,” he said in a statement.
“Although their story does ask profound questions about how we live and end our lives, for me, their story was always about something simpler and more enduring. For me this was always about love. Unconditional love.”
Not only have Mavis Eccleston and her family given Lang and ITV their blessing, but they’ve made themselves available to the production team.
The series will also be produced by Bruce Goodison (Anne, Doctor Foster) and Kate Cook (The Curse, Glasgow Girls). Tom Brittney, who worked on Grantchester, will also serve as an executive producer alongside Ross Murray and Richard Hart.
“When I first read about Mavis and Dennis in 2018, I was struck by the extraordinary love at its heart and the profound injustice their family endured,” Brittney said.
“I felt their story, told with care and humanity, could be a powerful drama and a worthy contribution to a debate that remains urgent and deeply complex. Having worked with ITV, I knew they’d be the perfect home as an institution that champions powerful, social justice stories.”
How many episodes?
Mavis Eccleston is set to be a four-part drama on ITV. Further information about the series will be announced in the coming months.
Polly Hill, ITV’s director of drama, called it a “poignant and powerful real life story”.
“It’s ultimately a love story and I’m honoured that Penelope Wilton and Jonathan Pryce have agreed to play Mavis and Dennis,” she added.
Read more: The best dramas to stream on ITVX now
