In 2016, wife, mother and charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in Iran and accused of spying. She spent the next six years unjustly incarcerated there, with her husband tirelessly campaigning for her release and return to the UK. It’s a heart-stopping story that’s the subject of the couple's book, A Yard of Sky - and now, that book is being turned into the BBC’s next harrowing drama.
Based on Nazanin and her husband Richard Ratcliffe’s 2023 book, the factual drama will detail their shared ordeal, from the moment Nazanin was arrested to her eventual release and reunion with her family in 2022. You may remember that Richard brought his wife’s case to public attention in any way he could, taking government ministers and even the Iranian authorities.
While we await the arrival of the BBC's A Yard of Sky adaptation on our screens, here's everything you need to know about the drama, including the plot, rumoured cast and how to watch it.
What is the BBC's A Yard of Sky adaptation about?
The four-part factual drama will tell the story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian citizen who was detained in Iran for six years, and her husband Richard Ratcliffe who campaigned tirelessly for her return. The series, which is currently untitled, is based on the couple’s book of the same name, which was released in September last year.
Over the course of the four episodes, the series is likely to cover the period from the day Nazanin (played by Narges Rashidi, pictured above) was arrested at the airport in Tehran in April 2016 on spying charges to her release and return to the UK six years later. It will also cover her husband’s fight to free his wife, including the hunger strike he stake outside Britain’s Foreign Office.
The series is being made by Fremantle-backed Dancing Ledge Productions, the company behind the BBC’s The Salisbury Poisonings. A BBC spokesperson says: “Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Richard Ratcliffe’s extraordinary experiences captured everyone’s hearts; their journey is one of despair, courage and hope, spanning two countries and six years, and ultimately, it’s a story of how this family, who were forced apart by international events, were finally reunited.”
Who's starring in A Yard of Sky?
The BBC hasn't yet confirmed the cast for the series, but the following actors are rumoured to be playing the lead roles:
- Narges Rashidi (Gangs of London) as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
- Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Nazanin’s husband, Richard Ratcliffe
We’re expecting cast details to be confirmed soon, so watch this space for more details.
Is the BBC's A Yard of Sky adaptation based on a true story?
Yes, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a real person (pictured with her husband and daughter below) who was detained in Iran from 3 April 2016 to 16 March 2022 as part of a long-running dispute between Britain and Iran. At the time of her arrest, Nazanin was with her 22-month-old daughter, about to board a flight back to the UK after visiting her family for Nowruz (Iranian New Year). She was released from prison in March 2022 and returned to the UK following a long and arduous campaign for her freedom. By the time Nazanin was released, her daughter, Gabriella, was seven years old, and Nazanin has spoken about suffering with PTSD and depression in the aftermath.
How can I watch the BBC's A Yard of Sky adaptation?
The BBC hasn’t yet shared a release date for its adaptation of A Yard of Sky, but we do know that it will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer when it does arrive. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here.
What other real-life dramas can I watch?
If you’re a fan of real-life dramas, we’d recommend watching out for Sheridan Smith’s upcoming ITV series, I Fought the Law. Sheridan will play Ann Ming, the heartbroken mother who campaigned to change the Double Jeopardy Law and ensure that her daughter’s murderer was convicted. The series is set to arrive on our screens this August, so we don’t have long to wait.
