Kay Stonham to adapt ‘The Little Italian Hotel’ with ZDF and BlackBox

ZDF Studios and BlackBox Multimedia Partner to Produce Romantic Comedy Drama ‘The Little Italian Hotel’

ZDF Studios and BlackBox Multimedia have partnered to develop romantic comedy drama “The Little Italian Hotel,” based on the book by best-selling author Phaedra Patrick and adapted for TV by writer Kay Stonham (“Millie Inbetween,” “Life of Riley,” “My Family”).

The deal was brokered by ZDF Studios’ director drama Yi Qiao, and Blackbox Multimedia’s managing director Chiara Cardoso. 

A feel-good romantic comedy, “The Little Italian Hotel” is set in the idyllic Italian region of Umbria. Ginny Splinters is 50 and at the top of her game. Her advice show “Ginny Listens” is vying for the No.1 slot on the U.K.’s premier radio station and she has a self-help book about to be published. Her private life is equally glittering and to prove it, she’s booked a luxurious anniversary celebration in Italy with her husband, Adrian. But, during a live phone-in, a caller throws doubt on Adrian’s faithfulness and her perfect life comes crashing down. Accompanied not by her husband but by five equally heart-broken listeners, whose problems she has rashly vowed to solve, Ginny goes on a journey of self-discovery and learns that not all heartaches can be easily healed.

“The Little Italian Hotel” was published in the U.K. and U.S. last year to rave reviews and has since sold in Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Lithuania. Patrick’s books have been translated into 25 languages worldwide with four of her titles becoming USA Today’s bestsellers. Her second novel, “Rise and Shine Benedict Stone,” was made into a movie in 2021.