GUY MCCRONE’S SERIES WAX FRUIT MAKES A LEAP FROM PAGE TO SCREEN
The Atlantic Dispatch takes a look at Wax Fruit, an iconic saga following the stratospheric rise of the Moorhouse family in Victorian-era Glasgow, which is poised to leap from page to screen in a groundbreaking multi-season TV series produced by Little White Rose Films.
This ambitious adaptation of Guy McCrone’s beloved and best-selling novels promises a fresh take on the period drama, blending historical realism with humour, raw ambition, and striking Scottish landscapes.
“It’s an epic, fueled by passion, black humour, raucous laughs, malt whisky—and a frightening dose of ambition!” said Sarah Purser, Executive Producer and Founder of Little White Rose Films. “We’re talking Scots here, so there’s no messing about—bold, brave, beautiful women and sexy, sharp, stubborn men taking on the world.”
Centred on the grit, ingenuity, and indomitable spirit of the Moorhouse Clan, Wax Fruit is an unflinching portrayal of family bonds, ambition, and the stark contrasts of Glasgow—a city fueled by wealth and innovation but haunted by poverty and social unrest.
From their origins on a wild and remote farm to the teeming streets of Glasgow, the Moorhouse family navigates power struggles, romantic entanglements, and societal challenges, all while embodying a resilience uniquely Scottish.
Purser added: “The Moorhouse Clan are entrepreneurs, pushing the boundaries, grabbing every opportunity the city affords, and burning the candle at both ends. They’re a family you want to hang out with, argue with, laugh with—live the dream with. Wax Fruit opens a door into an audacious, aspirational, life-affirming new world.”
“Glasgow, 1870, is one of the richest, most glamorous cities in Europe—a crucible of unbridled growth and global influence. It’s swaggering, powerful—a city drunk on its own success—and like any rollicking drunk, it’s heading for a fall,” she continued.
She added, “If you want to make it in the Wax Fruit world, the currency is hard graft, ingenuity, and the razor-sharp wit of the Scots, which crackles throughout. You can forget any notions of grandeur until you’ve put in the blood, sweat, and tears. And when you’ve proved your worth and made it to the top, it’s what you do with your success that gives you your kudos.”
The star-studded and stellar cast of Wax Fruit includes:
- Martin Compston (Line of Duty, Vigil, The Rig) as Arthur
- Molly Windsor (Three Girls, Netflix’s Out of the Dust) as Bel, BAFTA winner
- Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter, Trainspotting) as Mary, BAFTA winner
- Ashley Jensen (Shetland, Afterlife, Extras, Ugly Betty) as Sophia
- Elaine C. Smith (Two Doors Down) as Mrs Barrowfield, BAFTA winner
- Bill Paterson (Outlander, Fleabag) as Lord Macallan, BAFTA winner
- Frankie Corio (Aftersun) as Phoebe (13 yrs old), breakthrough star
- Rosie Graham (The School for Good and Evil, Outlander, Sanditon) as Sarah
- Kenny Doughty (Vera, Coronation Street) as William.
This award-winning cast, supported by an equally acclaimed creative team—including BAFTA-winning writer Andrea Gibb, Oscar-nominated Director of Photography Michael Coulter, and BAFTA-winning designer Andy Harris, Director Morag Fullarton, with an original score by Emmy-winning composer Tommy Reilly—ensures that Wax Fruit will bring the gritty beauty of Victorian Scotland to life. The show also boasts an award-winning lineup of executive producers with experience across high-profile franchises such as Star Wars, Mission Impossible, and Star Trek.
Scottish author Guy McCrone’s million-selling trilogy, released in 1947, became a New York Times Book of the Month. Purser said, “Guy McCrone’s Wax Fruit Trilogy is a hidden treasure and a gift for television adaptation. We can’t wait to bring his glorious world to life for a new audience.”
The series will feature a blend of sumptuous visuals and intimate storytelling, capturing the intense highs and devastating lows of life in Victorian Glasgow. Against the city’s thriving industry and deep social inequalities, the Moorhouses rise as ambitious entrepreneurs and community icons. Their story is one of love, loyalty, and resilience—a family story that resonates as much today as in their own time.
Sarah Purser added “We’re blown away by the excitement Wax Fruit is generating. There’s a palpable understanding of the immense potential this flagship series has in bringing the vivid, vibrant, wonderful world of Wax Fruit to life for an international audience—and, in so doing, celebrating Glasgow and Scotland on a global stage.”
About Little White Rose Films:
Little White Rose Films was founded to bring original, eclectic, and globally appealing stories to life on the big and small screens. Our heart is in Scotland, but our soul is universal. We’re all about the quality of the material, the calibre of the talent we work with—and, when it comes down to it, a proper story beautifully told.
About The Wax Fruit Trilogy:
The Wax Fruit Trilogy by Guy McCrone is a beloved series of novels chronicling the epic rise of the Moorhouse family in 19th-century Glasgow.
First published in 1947, this timeless trilogy captivated readers worldwide, selling over a million copies and achieving a place as a prestigious New York Times “Book of the Month.”