New Six-Part Comedic Drama THE TROUBLE WITH MAGGIE COLE Premieres Sunday, October 18 on PBS

Series Looks at How Idle Gossip Can Become Salaciously Damaging in a Close-Knit Community

ARLINGTON, VA; September 23, 2020 - THE TROUBLE WITH MAGGIE COLE, a new comedic drama from Genial Productions ITV, will air on PBS stations starting Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). Set in an idyllic English fishing village, this six-part series follows the titular character as she navigates the repercussions of her idle gossip. The series will also stream nationally on the PBS Video App and will be available via PBS Passport.

Created and written by Mark Brotherhood (SHAMELESS UK) and directed by Ben Gregor (THE INCREASINGLY POOR DECISIONS OF TODD MARGARET), the ensemble cast is led by Dawn French (THE VICAR OF DIBLEY), Mark Heap (FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER), Julie Hesmondhalgh (BROADCHURCH), Vicki Pepperdine (THE WINDSORS) and Patrick Robinson (CASUALTY).

Set in the picturesque village of Thurlbury, the series centers on Maggie Cole (French), the self-appointed oracle of this close-knit community, who, when interviewed by a local radio reporter, shares one too many juicy details about some notable residents in the community. The series chronicles the fallouts, fights and consequences resulting from the broadcast, not sparing a soul in the small town.

THE TROUBLE WITH MAGGIE COLE is a warmly humorous yet distinctly cautionary tale about the perils of passing on unfounded gossip.

Below are episode descriptions and airdates:

Episode One

Premieres Sunday, October 18, 2020, 8:00 p.m. ET

Historian Maggie Cole is asked to do an interview of her coastal village, Thurlbury. Maggie throws a garden party where she plays the interview in full, revealing all the guarded secrets, indiscretions and gossip, changing life in Thurlbury forever.

Episode Two

Premieres Sunday, October 25, 2020, 8:00 p.m. ET

With the town still reeling from "Radio-gate," Maggie is desperate to make amends. Meanwhile, Neil and Kelly decide to embrace what was broadcast about them and go along with the unsubstantiated gossip as a way to explain their sudden windfall.

Episode Three

Premieres Sunday, November 1, 2020, 8:00 p.m. ET

Peter Cole is visibly jittery from public and press attention following Maggie's interview. Author Marcus bonds with Jill and Maggie continues her mission to right all of her wrongs, with a tense visit to local hairdresser Kelly.

Episode Four

Premieres Sunday, November 8, 2020, 8:00 p.m. ET

As Maggie continues to seek amends with her neighbors, she makes a horrifying discovery in a confrontation with Roxanna. Gambling debts plague Alex, and the community's continued pressure on Peter threatens his job and family.

Episode Five

Premieres Sunday, November 15, 2020, 8:00 p.m. ET

Devastated Maggie heads to the local pub to obtain a room, only to face another townsperson wronged by Radio-gate. Becka and Maggie share a rare moment, putting things into perspective for Maggie. Karen surprises Peter in a borderline terrifying way.

Episode Six

Premieres Sunday, November 22, 2020, 8:00 p.m. ET

It's the day of the village celebrations, but not everyone is in the mood. Maggie still has to make amends with Jill and Marcus, but is most concerned with reuniting with her family. A series of events could change life in Thurlbury forever.

The series will simultaneously stream and broadcast on Sunday, October 18 and will be available for two weeks on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video App for iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV and Chromecast. Two weeks after premiere, PBS station members can stream the film with PBS Passport (contact your local PBS station for details). 

THE TROUBLE WITH MAGGIE COLE will be available on DVD from PBS Distribution and can be purchased at ShopPBS.org. The film will also be available for digital download.

About Genial Productions ITV

GENIAL PRODUCTIONS is an independent production company, set up in 2018 by Simon Nye and Sophie Clarke-Jervoise to make film and television programming for the UK and international markets. In the year since its launch, Genial's production slate includes half-hour comedy Island of Dreams starring Harry Enfield for BBC2 and The Trouble With Maggie Cole - a comedy drama series starring Dawn French for ITV, with a new comedy drama series (as yet unannounced) for ITV currently in pre-production. Simon and Sophie have between them created, written and produced many hundreds of hours of prime time comedy and drama for BBC, ITV, C4, Sky and Amazon Prime, including The Durrells, Benidorm, My Wonderful Life, Wild West, Is It Legal? How Do You Want Me? My Family, Reggie Perrin, The Railway Children, Mount Pleasant, Boy Meets Girl and Jonathan Creek,. Working with the best writing, directing and acting talent, their emphasis is on scripted comedy, drama and anything in between. Genial Productions is based in Covent Garden and is backed by ITV Studios.

About PBS

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