Rollem Productions’ brand new BBC One drama Love, Lies & Records, from the pen of BAFTA award-winning writer Kay Mellor, will air this autumn.

With a cast of much-loved actors - including Ashley Jensen (Catastrophe, Ugly Betty, Extras), Adrian Bower (Teachers, The Last Kingdom), Kenny Doughty (Vera, Stella), Rebecca Front (Doctor Thorne, War & Peace, Humans) and Mark Stanley (Dark River, Dickensian, Broken) - the series follows Registrar Kate Dickenson (Jensen) as she tries to juggle her personal life with the daily dramas of births, marriages and deaths and the impact they have on her.

After a dream promotion to the top job of Superintendent, Kate finds herself increasingly torn by the endless responsibilities of being a modern working mother. Her daughter’s hiding suspicious messages on her mobile, her son hates her because she’s bought him the wrong trainers and now her stepson’s turned up unannounced to stay.

As Kate tries to hold her work, life and relationship together, things go from complicated to impossible when a disgruntled colleague threatens to expose a secret from her past. The series explores how women in particular have to juggle their lives. Kate has reached the top of her profession but with everything she’s worked for in jeopardy, can she sustain herself when it’s not just her job that’s on the line?

Ashley Jensen says: “I have admired and respected Kay's work for a long time and I am thrilled to be playing Kate. Kay's writing is always honest and from the heart. I think that Kay has always managed to tap into issues that are relevant to ordinary peoples everyday lives and with this new show she deals with the major dramatic milestones that affect pretty much all of us.”

Rebecca Front says: “Births, marriages, deaths. We've all had experience of at least a couple of those. And Kay Mellor's trademark mix of humanity, warmth, drama and intrigue runs right through these scripts. So I'm really excited to be part of it.”

Kay Mellor says: "When I was waiting to register the death of my mother at Leeds Town Hall, I was next to a couple who were waiting to register the birth of their much wanted baby girl. Later on that week, I attended the wedding of some friends of ours. I realised that the register office was a microcosm of life itself - tears laughter and celebrations.

"As I sat watching the registrars marry my friends, I started to wonder about their lives and how they dealt with the roller coaster of emotions that they go through on a daily basis. Not long after, a series started to develop in my head.

"I am delighted to be working with the BBC again on my brand new drama - their support and encouragement is invaluable. I’m also excited about attracting such a talented cast who will give birth to the series.”

Elizabeth Kilgarriff, BBC Executive Producer says: "Kay's scripts are, of course, brilliant - entertaining, funny and moving all at the same time. Together with this exciting cast line-up the show promises to take BBC One viewers on an emotional rollercoaster.”

Love, Lies & Records is a 6x60' drama series and has been commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content and Lucy Richer, Former Acting Controller of Drama. The series will be directed by Dominic Leclerc (The A Word, The Syndicate) and Cilla Ware (Silk, Death in Paradise) and produced by Yvonne Francas (Death in Paradise, The Syndicate). The executive producers are Kay Mellor for Rollem Productions and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for the BBC. It is a Rollem production for BBC One and is co-produced with Acorn Media Enterprises in North America. The series will be distributed by all3media International, Rollem Productions international partner. Acorn Media Enterprises also holds distribution rights in UK, Eire and ANZ.

Character descriptions

Kate Dickenson (Ashley Jensen)

Kate works as a Senior Registrar in Greater Leeds Register Office.

Kate and her partner Rob have been together for fourteen years and live in a modest semi-detached house in Leeds with their daughter Lucy and Kate’s son from her previous partner Tom.

As a modern working mum, life is never simple for Kate. With her daughter skipping school and hiding messages on her mobile and her son claiming she never has enough time for him, Kate finds herself increasingly torn between her family and the demands of her work.

With her dream promotion to Superintendent Registrar on the cards, Kate’s struggling to achieve the elusive work/life balance she’s always hearing about. And as her work and home life get increasingly complicated, she can’t help but feel that she’s failing in both camps.

But Kate loves her job. She enjoys helping people and being there for them in their moments of joy and also sadness and she doesn’t mind bending the rules if it’s for the right reasons. The daily dramas of births, marriages and deaths mean there’s never a dull day in the office and her team and colleagues adore her – some more than they should.

But Kate’s maverick ways are not to everyone’s taste and when a disgruntled colleague threatens to expose a risqué secret from Kate’s past that could jeopardize everything she’s worked so hard for, she’s shocked to find it’s not just her job that’s on the line…

Rob Armstrong (Adrian Bower)

Rob is a Detective Sergeant. He and Kate have been together for over 14 years.

They met when Kate first moved to Leeds and Rob pulled her over in her red mini to tell her that her coat was trapped in the door. After a barrage of verbal abuse from Kate, Rob was smitten. He was separated from his wife Gill at the time and he and Kate have been together ever since.

They now live in a semi-detached house in Leeds with their thirteen-year-old daughter - Lucy and Kate’s fifteen-year-old son from her previous relationship - Tom. Rob also has a son from his marriage to ex-wife Gill - Liam, who has just started at university. Life is far from dull with their blended family and together they try to tackle all the chaos of family life. But inevitably the pressure of trying to juggle their careers and the demands of their children puts stress on their relationship.

In spite of his time-consuming home life, ambitious Rob doggedly throws his all into his job as a Detective Sergeant and he’s worked hard climbing the ranks at the Yorkshire Police. When there’s an opening for the rank of Detective Inspector at Westfield Police Station, Rob is determined to grab the promotion. All he needs is the perfect case so he can prove himself and impress his boss...

Rick Severs (Kenny Doughty)

Rick works as a Deputy Registrar in Greater Leeds Register Office

Rick came to work in Leeds five years ago, which is when he first met Kate. There was an instant attraction there but Kate was already in a relationship with Rob and shortly after he met his partner Olivia.

He and Olivia now live together and have been trying for a baby, but so far they’ve been unsuccessful. After another round of IVF failed to get them pregnant, they’ve decided to take a break from trying for the time being. But the stress and disappointment has taken its toll on their already strained relationship and Rick’s hiding a secret that could push their relationship over the edge.

Rick is handsome and a little bit cheeky and gets on well with his colleagues. He cares a lot about the people around him and he has a big heart, which makes him good at his job, but can also get him into trouble.

Judy Fellows (Rebecca Front)

Judy works as Acting Superintendent Registrar in Greater Leeds Register Office.

She has worked in the Register Office for over 21 years and has dedicated her life to her career. She started as a Celebrant and worked her way up to Deputy Registrar, and then Senior Registrar. And now, following the retirement of the current Superintendent Registrar, Judy is proud to be Acting Superintendent until the decision is made as to who will take the post permanently. Having been overlooked for the same promotion twice previously, she is sure that this time the right decision will be made.

Judy is a stickler for the rules; after all they exist for a reason. She believes in doing things by the book and keeping personal matters out of the workplace and her attitude can sometimes rub her colleagues up the wrong way.
Judy is a practicing Christian and has strong moral beliefs - she firmly believes in the sanctity of the work they do in the Register Office and doesn’t believe that the services they offer should, or need to be, modernized in any way. She’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes is right and her moral beliefs are soon compromised when she finds herself backed into a corner.

James McKenzie (Mark Stanley)

James works as a Deputy Registrar in Greater Leeds Register Office.

To everyone around him, James appears to be content with his apparently comfortable life. He loves his job and hearing the stories of the people who come in to the register office each day. His easy-going, warm and caring nature makes him perfect at handling the constant stream of brides, grooms, new parents and mourners. At home his world revolves around his wife Sarah and their two sons; 14-year-old Jaden and 11-year old Ewan. James loves being a father and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his family.

Over the last few years James and Kate have become really good friends and they love spending time in each other’s company at work. Like Kate, James trusts his gut instincts and picks up when visitors are economical with the truth. Perhaps this is because he is playing his own cards close to his chest... James has a secret he’s been keeping from everyone for years and it promises to turn his seemingly perfect world upside down...