Glass Houses, new series for Dawn French.

Dawn French has a new UK series in the pipeline, Glass Houses.

The 6 part ITV series is set in a picturesque small coastal town with a close-knit community.

It follows the stories and fall out for Maggie Connors (Dawn French) who doesn’t pay attention to the cautionary adage that ‘those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’.

Maggie is a central character in town who makes it her business to know a bit about everyone’s lives. When a radio journalist interviews her for a small reportage piece about local life she gives him far more detail, and embellishment, about the locals and their personal lives than he was counting on. In the days and weeks following the show’s broadcast, Maggie sees the butterfly effect of how her very public gossip-fest affects various figures around the town and disrupts their lives.

Maggie has been happily married to headmaster Peter (Mark Heap) for nearly 40 years, and their son Jamie and his wife Becka live nearby. Other notable residents include Maggie’s best friend Jill (Julie Hesmondhalgh), Brian the publican, school secretary Karen (Vicki Pepperdine), the town’s GP Carol, local shopkeepers Emil and Roxanna, and Kelly who works in the hair salon. Also part-time resident is the handsome Marcus (Patrick Robinson), who rents a cottage to write his best-selling novels.

Created and written by Mark Brotherhood (Benidorm, Mount Pleasant, Shameless, Worst Year of My Life Again!) it will go into production on location in South Devon in coming months.

Saskia Schuster, ITV’s Comedy Controller said, “Glass Houses is a new drama in the tradition of Doc Martin and The Darling Buds Of May, full of warmth and intriguing characters. This new series will embrace its beautiful idyllic South Devon setting as we meet the villagers of Thurlbury and find out how an innocent afternoon spent indiscreetly gossiping has a domino effect on the whole village.“

Dawn French added,”It’s such a good story with a fantastic funny, touching script by Mark Brotherhood. Let me at it!”

An Australian broadcaster is yet to be announced, but I would tip Seven or possibly ABC.

French can be seen in a third season of Delicious on ABC this Saturday.