Written by Kianna Best on Nov 23, 2023. Posted in Production News

Paramount+ greenlights UK and Spain shot The Road Trip

The Road Trip, based on the best-selling book by Beth O’Leary, is coming to Paramount+. Directed by China Moo-Young, the series follows the success of O’Leary’s adaptation of The Flatshare. Written and executive produced by Ryan O’Sullivan and Matilda Wnek, both known for their work on Vigil 2, The Road Trip is set for filming in Bristol and Grand Canaria,  for the border crossing adventure. Produced by 42, the series will star Emma Appleton, Laurie Davidson and David Jonsson.

Beth O’Leary, author of The Road Trip, said: "I am so thrilled to finally be able to shout about this news! 42 and Paramount+ were the dream team behind The Flatshare series, so it's wonderful to know that The Road Trip is in such safe, skilled hands. From my very first glimpse at an early script for this show, I knew it was going to be something really special, and now that we have our incredible cast lined up, I just cannot wait to see The Road Trip brought to life."

Clockwise: Laurie Davidson (courtesy of Phil Sharp), Isabella Laughland (courtesy of Pip), Angus Imrie (courtesy of Faye Thomas), David Jonsson (courtesy of Joe Quigg), Emma Appleton (courtesy of Walnutwax)

Romantic comedy The Road Trip follows Addie, played by Appleton(The Killing Kind, Everything I Know About Love), and her sister Deb, played by Isabella Laughland (Foundation, Trigonometry)on a road trip to Spain for a friend’s wedding. Things all go awry, however, when they are joined by Addies’ ex Dylan, played by Davidson (Mary & George, Guilty Party), his best friend Marcus, played by Jonsson (Rye Lane, Industry), and complete stranger Rodney Angus Imrie (The Crown, Fleabag), played by . Witty and emotionally complex, the series will see how the travellers encounter the cramped quarters of a creaky campervan, and the unavoidable confrontation of a buried history.

“We saw brilliant success across the globe with The Flatshare, and we are thrilled to be working with 42 again on adapting another of Beth’s much-loved and best-selling novels,” Sebastian Cardwell, deputy chief content office at 42 commented. “The Road Trip is the perfect addition to our expanding drama slate on Paramount+ and I can’t wait to see this incredible cast bring these characters to life.”

Miriam Brent, Rory Aitken and Eleanor Moran, Executive Producers at 42 said: “We are so excited to be setting off on The Road Trip. It’s a unique privilege to be trusted with a second Beth O’Leary bestseller, and Ryan and Matilda have done an extraordinary job of translating the hilarious and poignant narrative to the screen. With the brilliant China Moo Young in the driving seat as lead director and such a wonderful cast, it’s going to be one hell of a ride!”

Lead director Moo-Young, known for her work on Everything I Know About Love, will be joined by Stella Corradi of Killing Eve, for block two of the series. Executive producer for the 42 based branch will be Miriam Brent, Rory Aitken and Eleanor Moran, along with Nikki Wilson (Wolf, Doctor Who) as producer and Kingsley Hoskins (The Girl Before, The Flatshare) as co-producer. Phoebe Eclair-Powell (Two Weeks To Live) will write episodes three and four, with Olivier award-winning Waleed Akhtar (The P Word) writing episode five.