Kaliane Bradley’s Time Travel Drama “The Ministry of Time” Announced for BBC One

The BBC has announced the commission of a new drama series titled The Ministry of Time, adapted from Kaliane Bradley’s highly anticipated debut novel. The six-part series, produced by A24 for BBC One and BBC iPlayer, will be written by Alice Birch, known for her work on Normal People and Dead Ringers.

The story revolves around The Ministry of Time, a newly established government department conducting an experiment to test the viability of time-travel. This experiment involves gathering historical figures, or ‘expats’, from different time periods. These expats include Commander Graham Gore from Sir John Franklin’s Arctic expedition in 1845, an army captain from the Somme, a plague victim from the 1600s, a widow from revolutionary France, and a soldier from the seventeenth century.

The expats are placed in unlikely flatshares with 21st-century liaisons called ‘bridges’. Commander Gore must acclimate himself to contemporary life, learning about everything from air travel to Spotify. Alongside his bridge—a modern woman who acts as his liaison—he navigates their developing relationship that is both tender and intense.

Meanwhile, the expats form friendships that provide them with support in this unfamiliar era where they have outlived everyone they once knew and loved. However, as a deeper conspiracy within The Ministry begins to surface, the bridge is faced with difficult decisions regarding whether to save or sacrifice those under her care.

Kaliane Bradley expresses her excitement about bringing her novel to screen: “I could not be more excited for The Ministry of Time to find a new home on screen… I’m sure Graham Gore would have been delighted too.”

Alice Birch shares her enthusiasm for adapting Bradley’s book: “Reading it was an exhilarating, thrilling and heartbreaking experience… I’m so excited to bring this story to the screen.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama comments on what viewers can expect: “It’s a series that feels utterly unique, fusing genres of romance, thriller, sci-fi and state of the nation drama. It’s both epic and intimate with an array of memorable characters, and a beautiful central relationship.”

The Ministry of Time (6×60) was commissioned by Lindsay Salt and will be executive produced by A24, Alice Birch, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. The series will be distributed internationally by A24.