Irvine Welsh making Too Much Rock ‘N’ Roll

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh is moving into TV with Too Much Rock ‘n’ Roll, a drama series about Britain’s Donnelly brothers, who created a fashion empire.

With the backdrop of the Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, the true story revolves around Anthony and Christopher Donnelly – two brothers from an alleged established crime family –  as they go from ticket touts to the catwalks of London, Paris, Milan and Tokyo.

Welsh will adapt a non-fiction book about the brothers with Dean Cavanagh (Babylon Heights). 

Content Media is handling international sales of the series, which will be produced by UK indie KEO Films, which has recently broadened out from making factual to also producing drama.

Welsh and Cavanagh said: “We’ve been offered many true life stories over the years but what attracts us to this story in particular is the fact that Anthony and Christopher are unbeatable, they won’t take no for answer, and we’re going to capture that spirit. It’s something we relate to having spent decades working in the business that is ‘show’, and all the attendant bullshit that comes with it.”

Filming starts later this year. No broadcaster has been announced.

Anthony and Christopher Donnelly said of the project: “When the book came out we got plenty of interest from people wanting to adapt it for the screen. Irvine and Dean are perfect for it – they totally get what we’re about.”

Debbie Manners CEO of KEO, added: “KEO’s recent move into scripted drama, telling real stories that are authentic using our television and documentary expertise in the scripted drama space is off to a flying start.”