The BBC and Hulu adaptation of Conversations with Friends – Normal People writer Sally Rooney’s debut novel – finally arrives on our screens this month.
BBC Three released a Conversations with Friends teaser trailer earlier this year, before the confirming the release date as Sunday 15th May 2022.
The cast was announced back in February 2021, with newcomer Alison Oliver set to play the lead role of 21-year old college student Frances. American Honey’s Sasha Lane plays her ex-girlfriend, now outgoing best friend, Bobbi.
Meanwhile Joe Alwyn (The Favourite) and Jemima Kirke (Girls, Sex Education) play Nick and Melissa, the couple that throws a spanner into Frances and Bobbi’s friendship, forming a ‘ménage à quatre’ (you can read more in our Conversations with Friends review).
Alongside the BBC, the US streaming service Hulu is also on board for the project, helmed by the same team behind the acclaimed Normal People.
“Sally Rooney perfectly and beautifully captures the complicated dynamics of relationships in her stories,” Hulu boss Beatrice Springborn said in a statement.
“After bringing that to life in Normal People to an overwhelmingly positive response, we are honoured to do the same with Conversations with Friends.”
Alice Birch, who co-wrote the Normal People adaptation with Rooney, serves as head writer on Conversations with Friends. Normal People director Lenny Abrahamson also helms the series.
Conversations with Friends is Sally Rooney’s debut novel, first published back in 2017 to strong reviews across the board.
Here’s everything you need to know about Conversations with Friends.
When is Conversations with Friends on TV?
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Conversations with Friends is released on Sunday 15th May 2022, appearing on BBC One, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer for UK viewers. Viewers based in the US can watch the 12-part series on Hulu.
The series is co-directed by Normal People’s Lenny Abrahamson and Leanne Welham (His Dark Materials).
In April last year, the official Conversations With Friends Twitter account shared an image of a clapperboard for the first episode of the drama, captioned: “It’s Day 1 of filming #ConversationswithFriends in Northern Ireland! We’re so excited to bring this world to life.”
It’s Day 1 of filming #ConversationswithFriends in Northern Ireland! We’re so excited to bring this world to life. ❤️ @hulu @bbcthree @ElementPictures pic.twitter.com/S3x5jxk1wq
— Conversations with Friends (@ConvosOnHulu) April 26, 2021
What is Conversations with Friends about?
Conversations with Friends introduces us to Frances and Bobbi, two best friends living in Dublin, who perform spoken word poetry.
The pair are discovered by an older woman named Melissa, a journalist who invites them into her home and helps to get their names out.
Frances quickly develops a complex relationship with Melissa’s husband Nick, despite the fact he initially seems the personification of everything she’s against.
As they become increasingly involved, Frances sees her other personal relationships spiral out of control – including her long-term connection with Bobbi.
The novel was praised for being an interesting exploration of love and relationships, with a witty sense of humour.
Announcing the adaptation in February, BBC exec Piers Wenger said: “It was a decision that made itself. We will commission work from Sally Rooney for as long as she writes it. We think she’s such an exciting voice, in the way that she’s able to write about young people’s lives in a really direct and authentic way.”
Conversations with Friends cast
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In February 2021 it was announced that newcomer Alison Oliver was set to play the lead role of 21-year old college student Frances. American Honey’s Sasha Lane plays her best friend, Bobbi.
Meanwhile Joe Alwyn (The Favourite) and Jemima Kirke (Sex Education, Girls) play accomplished older couple Nick and Melissa.
Academy Award-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson (Room), who co-directed Normal People, also returned with this adaptation.
Abrahamson said: “I love Conversations With Friends, its depth, humour and freshness, and it’s an honour to be involved in bringing it to the screen. I’m particularly happy that my connection to Sally and her work is set to continue. Making Normal People has been a singular pleasure and I’m excited to be working with the same brilliant team again on Conversations With Friends.”
Is Normal People a prequel or sequel to Conversations with Friends?
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No, the two books are not directly connected, although they both explore themes of love and strained relationships. The two books also seemingly exist within the same universe, as a “Marianne” is very briefly referenced in Conversations With Friends.
The same core team who made the Normal People TV adaptation at production company Element Pictures will be working together again to bring Conversations with Friends to our screens.
Normal People co-producer Ed Guiney previously confirmed he is working on Conversations with Friends alongside director Lenny Abrahamson, who directed Normal People alongside Hettie McDonald.
Speaking to Radiotimes.com, Abrahamson described Conversations With Friends as a “cousin” of Normal People.
“It’s still within that sort of… you can feel Sally’s writing obviously, and there are similarities in how I’ll approach this, although there are also differences,” he said.
Asked if the shows would occupy the same universe, and if Marianne could appear in the background, Abrahamson responded, “Yes, that’s perfect! And Connell could be some moping boy in the background, licking his pencil. Now we’re talking, that’s gold!”
Normal People co-writer Alice Birch will return to write several episodes, with further screenwriters yet to be announced.
How the Conversations with Friends TV series is different from the book
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Like Normal People, the TV adaptation of Conversations with Friends (executive produced by the book’s author, Sally Rooney) remains largely faithful to the events of the source material.
Although much of what’s written on the page – in particular character’s interior thoughts – can’t be shown on-screen, much of the dialogue remains true to the book.
However, there are some minor changes that eagle-eyed fans of the book will be able to spot.
For example, in episode one Bobbi charms a dinner invitation out of famous writer Melissa. However, in the book it’s Melissa who instigates the relationship between herself and Bobbi and Frances, after she suggests writing a profile piece about the pair and their poetry.
Join Conversations with Friends stars Alison Oliver and Joe Alwyn, alongside the show’s director Lenny Abrahamson, executive producer Emma Norton and producer Catherine Magee, for a special Q&A at this year’s BFI & Radio Times Television Festival – book your tickets here.
Conversations with Friends is released on Sunday 15th May 2022, appearing on BBC One, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer for UK viewers. Viewers based in the US can watch the 12-part series on Hulu.
You can order the novel on Amazon. Looking for something to watch in the meantime? Check out our TV Guide or visit our dedicated Drama hub for the latest news.
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