BBC Drama today announced that Desperate Romantics has been commissioned from BBC Drama Production for BBC Two for transmission in 2009/10.

Set in and amongst the alleys, galleries and flesh-houses of 19th century industrial London, Desperate Romantics follows the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a vagabond group of ingenue English painters, poets and critics.

A relationship drama from the perspective of this iconoclastic group of dysfunctional male romantics, the series follows their lives and relationships as they shamelessly scheme and strive to find fame, fortune and success as well as love and quite a bit of sex on the way.

Desperate Romantics is written by Peter Bowker, whose credits include Blackpool, The Canterbury Tales (The Miller’s Tale) and ShakespeaRe-Told (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

This colourful and rude gang drama from BBC Drama Production will be executive produced by Kate Harwood, Controller, Series and Serials, BBC Drama Production.

It will be co-exec’ed by Franny Moyle, whose factual book of the same name will be published this year.

The series is being produced by Ben Evans (Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!, Fear Of Fanny, Curse Of Comedy).

Kate Harwood says: “Basically, it’s Entourage with easels. Desperate Romantics paints a modern, vivid and irreverent portrait of this group of painters whose attitude to the establishment makes them comparable to the punks a hundred years later.

“I’m delighted that BBC Drama Production continues to surprise with our diverse dramas, ranging from the recent BBC Two hit House Of Saddam and forthcoming productions including A Short Stay In Switzerland starring Julie Walters.”

Desperate Romantics will film in London from early 2009, and casting and further production appointments will be announced shortly.