Irish author Marian Keyes has been delighting readers for nearly three
decades with her warm, witty, and deeply human novels. Known for
blending sharp humour with themes of love, family, addiction, grief, and
resilience, she has become one of the world’s most beloved storytellers.
Since her debut in 1995, her books have sold more than 39 million copies
and been translated into 36 languages, with titles like Rachel’s Holiday,
Grown Ups and Anybody Out There becoming modern classics. Now,
two of her best-loved stories are heading to the screen, with brand-new
drama series currently in production in Ireland.
Grown Ups – A Netflix Family Drama
Currently filming in south county Dublin, Grown Ups brings to life the bestselling novel of the same name. The series follows the Casey family – noisy, close-knit, and bound by love, resentment, and memory in equal measure. When the family’s “good son” dies suddenly, the Caseys are forced to confront their grief, long-held secrets, and the exhausting (and often ridiculous) task of being an adult.
The drama stars Peabody Award–winner Sarah Greene, Barry Ward (The End of the F**ing World*), and Robert Sheehan (The Umbrella Academy). Created by Sam Strauss (Apple Cider Vinegar), the show promises the mix of humour and heartbreak that has made Keyes a household name. Grown Ups will stream on Netflix once production wraps.
The Walsh Sisters – A BBC and RTÉ Comedy-Drama
If Grown Ups explores family through tragedy, The Walsh Sisters revels in chaos, comedy, and survival. Based on five of Keyes’ novels – including the international bestsellers Rachel’s Holiday and Anybody Out There – the six-part series follows sisters Anna, Rachel, Maggie, Claire, and Helen as they stumble through heartbreak, addiction, grief, and parenthood in their late 20s and 30s.
The cast features Louisa Harland (Derry Girls), Caroline Menton, Danielle Galligan (Shadow and Bone), and Máiréad Tyers (Extraordinary), with Aidan Quinn and Carrie Crowley as the bemused parents. Screenwriter Stefanie Preissner (Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope) leads the adaptation and even steps into the role of sister Maggie. Directed by Ian Fitzgibbon (Hullraisers), the series is billed as “a comedy about serious things” – equal parts brutally honest and laugh-out-loud funny.
Filming begins in early 2025, with The Walsh Sisters set to air first on RTÉ, before landing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer for UK audiences. Cineflix Rights will handle wider international distribution.
Marian Keyes on Seeing Her Stories Come Alive
For Keyes, who has sold more than 39 million books in 36 languages, these adaptations mark a milestone. “This is SO exciting!!!! I’m beside myself! I love the scripts; they’ve really kept the spirit of the books,” she said when the news broke. Fans can expect the warmth, wit, and unflinching honesty that have made her novels bestsellers for decades.
With Grown Ups heading to Netflix and The Walsh Sisters to RTÉ and the BBC, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Marian Keyes – and for readers eager to see her unforgettable families brought to life on screen.
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Marian Keyes’ writing is warm, witty and fearlessly honest with characters and relationships that are so relatable, we see them in ourselves, our friends and our own family. Sheer storytelling magic.