The House of Arden
TV pilot — YA fantasy adventure (6–10 x 60 min series)
Logline:
After losing their father, two teenagers inherit a crumbling castle and discover they must travel back in time to recover treasure hidden by their ancestors — if they can learn to work together first.
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Elf and her older brother Edred have been living with their young aunt since their father disappeared on a government mission. When Edred unexpectedly inherits a rundown castle and a title with no money behind it, the siblings uncover a hidden spell and a magical creature called the Mouldiwarp, who reveals that a long-lost family treasure is scattered across centuries.
To find it, they must travel back through time — encountering smugglers during the Napoleonic era, the Gunpowder Plot, the Tower of London, and figures like Anne Boleyn. But the real journey is closer to home: learning that the genuine treasure is the family and community they've been taking for granted.
Source material:
Adapted from E. Nesbit's 1908 novel The House of Arden (out of copyright). Nesbit is the author of The Railway Children and Five Children and It — both successfully adapted for screen.
Themes:
Family, legacy, and what it means to inherit something you didn't ask for. The series blends historical adventure with a modern coming-of-age story about siblings learning to rely on each other. Each time period explores a different aspect of the Arden family history, revealing that the choices made by their ancestors echo in the present.
Format:
60-minute episodes, 6–10 episode series
Target audience: YA / family (8pm BBC or Channel 5 slot)
Tone: Adventurous, warm, historically grounded — in the tradition of British children's fantasy
Development:
Pilot script developed with script editor Maria Dewhurst (credits include Doctors, Sony). Episode outlines for full series arc available.
Pilot script and series bible available on request.
Request script →