BBC Studios-backed fledgling scripted producer Brock Media, founded by Animals producer Sarah Brocklehurst, has optioned a memoir by Emma Jane Unsworth and is developing a drama from Succession writer Jamie Carragher.

After the Storm, which was published by Profile Books in 2021, is an account of Unsworth’s experience of postnatal depression and motherhood after the birth of her first child.

The project is a continuation of Brock Media CEO Brocklehurst and Unsworth’s creative partnership, after Brocklehurst produced the film adaptation of Unsworth’s second novel Animals, which starred Arrested Development actor Alia Shawkat and Holiday Grainger.

Speaking to C21, Brocklehurst said: “After the Storm is an incredibly brave and funny piece of writing which we’re using as the basis for a series. It will be a very vibrant and honest take on early motherhood, family, mental health and falling back in love with yourself after a dark time.”

Meanwhile, Brock Media is developing a drama with Jamie Carragher, a staff writer on season three of HBO’s Succession. Carragher was also a writer’s assistant on Riz Ahmed’s Englistan, Peter Moffat’s 61st Street (AMC) and Kirstie Swain’s Sweetpea (Sky).

Oxford Circle focuses on a close-knit group of students at Oxford University, and explores “obsessive rivalries, privilege and the effect of grief amongst young people,” according to Brocklehurst.

Brock Media was founded in January and, alongside Brocklehurst, the female-led team includes head of development Katie Brown, formerly at ITV and Big Talk, associate producer Rohina Cameron-Perera from Empress Films and development executive Mélys Codo from Film4.