Dame Penelope Wilton, best known for her role as Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey, is set to star in a new ITV drama based on the true story of Mavis Eccleston, a woman who survived a suicide pact with her husband of nearly 60 years.
The four-part series, which will begin filming in Bristol later this year, follows Mavis Eccleston, who was arrested and charged with the murder of her husband Dennis after the pact. The couple were found by family and taken to hospital, where Mavis survived but Dennis died shortly after.
Mavis, then 80, was charged with murder but found not guilty after a two-week trial in September 2019. Sir Jonathan Pryce, known for his role in The Crown, will play Dennis Eccleston. Wilton said: 'Mavis was devoted to her husband Dennis, their enduring love for each other clear to see to all. They lived life on their own terms and when the time came, she wanted to respect his wishes.'
The couple decided to end their lives together after Dennis received a terminal cancer diagnosis and declined further treatment, having already battled cancer twice. Their children, Kevin and Joy, were upset by the decision. Pryce added: 'This is a powerful and timely story of an extraordinary, devoted couple as they face the painful dilemma of assisted dying.'
A release date has not yet been announced, with further casting details expected in due course.
