Good news for fans of Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo’s dazzlingly creative novels: the BBC is bringing her 2014 book Mr Loverman to our TV screens very soon. Set to star Line Of Duty’s Lennie James in the lead role of Barrington ‘Barry’ Jedidiah Walker, it follows the story of an older man whose family has no idea that he has been having an affair with his best friend for decades.

Evaristo is “thrilled” that the tale is being adapted for the screen, revealing that she loves the idea of her characters “stepping beyond the pages of the novel and into people’s living rooms and lives”.

Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming adaptation of Mr Loverman.

What is Mr Loverman about?

Over eight half-hour episodes, Mr Loverman will tell the story of 70-year-old Barry. Born in Antigua before moving to London, he is an “exuberant Hackney personality” who is renowned for his dapper taste and fondness for retro suits, according to the BBC synopsis.

“Carmel, his wife of 50 years, senses that Barry has been cheating on her with other women,” the synopsis continues. “Little does she know what’s really going on: a secret, decades-long passionate affair with his best friend and soulmate, Morris.

“Now entering the next chapter of his life, Barry has big choices to make that will force his whole family to question their own futures.”

Exploring Britain’s older Caribbean community, the series is set to “paint an incisive portrait of a family, exploring aspirations and regret, parenthood and social expectations about sexual orientation and love”.

Who will star in Mr Loverman?

Alongside the previously announced Lennie James as Barrington Jedidiah Walker will be Olivier award winner Sharon D. Clarke who joins the cast as Carmel Walker, Barrington’s wife of five decades.

Ariyon Bakare (Life, His Dark Materials) plays Barrington’s best friend and soulmate, Morris De La Roux, while Tamara Lawrance (Get Millie Black, Time) and Sharlene Whyte (Small Axe, Stephen) star as Barrington and Carmel’s daughters, Maxine and Donna. Tahj Miles (Small Axe, Death In Paradise), will play Daniel, Donna’s son.

Keenan Munn-Francis (Black Dog) will star as a young Barrington opposite Gabin Kongolo (The Suspect) as a young Morris. Lauren Akosia also joins the cast as a young Carmel, known as Carmelita.

The series has been adapted by Nathaniel Price who has  also worked on The Outlaws and Noughts + Crosses, so Evaristo’s novel is in excellent hands. 

When will Mr Loverman be released?

All episodes will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday 14th October. The first two episodes will air on BBC One at 9pm that evening. 

The trailer, below, will give you a taste of what to expect…

Images: BBC