A television series focusing on Bill Shankly’s time as Liverpool manager is in the making.
Award-winning studio A24 is working closely with the Premier League club to produce the multi-part drama in association with Box To Box, the studio behind the popular ‘Drive to Survive’ Formula One series.
The production will be filed in Liverpool and Anfield, and be overseen by the club as well as Shankly’s granddaughter, Karen Gill. The aim is to chart Liverpool’s journey from a struggling team to a global powerhouse and how it all started to move forward in the 1960s.
Shankly, the legendary manager, was in charge from 1959 to 1974 and helped guide the club to three league titles, two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup.
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Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan were able to build on the winning culture he created, adding seven league titles and four European Cups in the 10 seasons that followed the Scotsman’s retirement.
Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Jack Thorne is writing the series and says: “Our goal is to focus not just on the club, but on the city itself — because, and this is one thing Shankly made sure, the club belongs to the city and the city belongs to the club.
“We have a chance with this show to celebrate both a magnificent football club and a magnificent city, whilst being honest about the struggles of the 1960s and 1970s in one of our industrial heartlands.
“We hope to honour the fans, the city, and the legacy of Liverpool FC in bringing its story to life.”
Gill adds: “I think it’s a wonderful way to share the story of my grandad’s time at LFC,” said Gill. “Anybody who knows anything about the club knows what it meant to Bill Shankly.”
(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
