BBC buys O.J. Simpson drama series

UK pubcaster the BBC has picked up the high-profile upcoming US drama series The People v. O.J Simpson, which tells the story of the infamous murder case.

The ten-part scripted series, which debuts on FX in the US on February 2, is based upon the book The Run Of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin, which examines what happened behind the scenes of the murder trial.

Cuba Gooding Jr plays Simpson, John Travolta defence attorney Robert Shapiro, David Schwimmer defence attorney Robert Kardashian.

Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story) directed the first episode of the series, which is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions. 20th Century Fox Television Distribution sells the show and struck the BBC deal..

Kim Shillinglaw, controller of BBC Two and BBC Four, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be bringing this gripping, highly distinctive series to BBC Two. With an outstanding cast and a top-rate creative team, it is just the kind of grown-up, contemporary drama I want to see on the channel.”

Sue Deeks, head of BBC programme acquisition, added: “I am so excited for BBC viewers to see this series. The People v. O.J. Simpson is a fascinating and totally absorbing dramatisation of a case seared into the public consciousness. It is a case that you might think you know all about – but believe me, you don’t know the half of it.”