ITV and Kudos today confirmed multi-award winning actresses Anna Friel, Sinead Keenan and Rosalind Eleazar have been cast in gripping, emotional thriller, Deep Water.

Set against the beautiful and imposing backdrop of the Lake District, the series is written by Anna Symon (Indian Summers, The Wilsons) and adapted from the Windermere series of novels by critically-acclaimed author, Paula Daly.

The six part series follows the lives of three complex and vibrant women, each struggling to keep their heads above very deep water. Like all of us, they seek to do their best for their families, but face tough choices with difficult, and often messy repercussions. The women are connected by the school gates, each with children around the same age.

International Emmy winning actress Anna Friel (Marcella, Butterfly) plays mother of three, Lisa Kallisto, who juggles her hectic family life with running a business, which keeps her occupied at all hours. Chaotic and disorganised, Lisa, is married to Joe who works night and day as a taxi driver.

Physiotherapist Roz, played by RTS award-winning and BAFTA nominated actress Sinead Keenan (Little Boy Blue) once had a thriving private practice, but the debts run up by her soulmate Winston leave the family facing financial ruin. If she can pay off their debts they will get their lives back on track. Roz is offered help from an unexpected quarter. The decision she makes could change the course of her life.

Kate Riverty played by Rosalind Eleazar (Howards End, Rellik) seems to have it all – wealthy and attractive and with a well-drilled and highly organised family life. Mother to Lucinda and Fergus, and married to Guy, Kate invites her friend Lisa and husband Joe to dinner, but the evening goes spectacularly wrong for Lisa after she makes a spontaneous decision..

With a stunning home overlooking Lake Windermere, Kate and Guy appear to be two of life’s winners, but is it possible Kate is too good to be true?

Commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill, Deep Water takes a modern look at families, the pressure of juggling busy lives, and is an exploration of what it means to be a ‘perfect’ mother.

Commented Polly Hill:

“Anna has cleverly woven together two of Paula’s brilliant novels, to create a wonderful modern and layered series. It’s about three very different women on their own incredible and often shocking journeys, whose lives connect at the school gates. It’s funny, sexy, truthful and often outrageous, and should have the audience asking what they would do to hold their own family together. I am delighted to be working with Kudos on this great new series for ITV.”

The drama will be produced by Rebecca Hodgson (Free Rein, Good Cop, The Road to Coronation Street) and directed by Harry Wootliff. Karen Wilson (The Tunnel, Utopia, Hustle), Diederick Santer (Tin Star, Man in an Orange Shirt, Grantchester) and Anna Symon will executive produce the series.

Commented Karen Wilson, Chief Creative Officer for Kudos and Executive Producer:

“We are thrilled to be working with Anna and ITV on bringing these wonderful books to life, and telling stories about modern women in an interesting and beautiful part of rural Britain.”

Filming for Deep Water begins in the stunning Cumbrian countryside from the beginning of September.

The series will be distributed internationally by Endemol Shine International.