Lees is an English author, journalist, presenter and campaigner who became the first trans woman to present shows on both BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4. Her critically acclaimed memoir, What It Feels Like For A Girl, recounts her life growing up in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, and details her strained relationship with her parents, her youth and her gender journey, and was featured in many ‘best of’ books lists when it came out in 2021.

Lees said she is “overblown with bliss” that her book will be making its way to our TV screens. “Most of all I’m just having so much fun bringing this universe to life in a visual medium,” she said in a statement. “It’s a primal scream – from the depths of a council estate – against a world that would prefer people who don’t fit the norm didn’t exist. But we do and we’re not going away, we’re not apologising and we’re not shutting up.

“This is a deeply personal project and I’m thrilled to be working with the BBC… The fact Chris Sweeney is directing, well, I feel like I’m top of the pops. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’re cooking up.”

Lead director and executive producer Chris Sweeney, who previously worked on The Tourist and Back To Life, said: “What a team to be making this with. Paris is a unique talent… and the team at the BBC have been so supportive of what is a truly special story. I’m very excited about this show.”

Paris Lees’s trailblazing memoir is being turned into a new BBC drama