The adrenalin-fuelled dystopian love story is being adapted by Levi David Addai with Matthew Graham who described the book series as “a powerful story drawing on the themes of hope, love and identity.”

Director of BBC Content Charlotte Moore announced the series, which is being made by Poldark indie Mammoth Screen at Edinburgh International Television Festival.

The series follows Sephy and Callum, who are fighting against a tyrannical State where strict race laws make existence a struggle.

For Sephy, a Cross, one of the black ruling class and daughter of a leading politician, and Callum, a Nought, a member of the white underclass, the fight is about more than just the forbidden romance that is blossoming between them. It is about right and wrong.

The novel won numerous awards when it was published in 2001 and author Malorie Blackman OBE was made Children’s Laurette from 2013 to 2015.

She said “I am beyond thrilled that Noughts and Crosses will be dramatised by the BBC - it couldn't have found a better home. Callum and Sephy seem to have meant a lot to readers over the years and I’m excited at the prospect of watching them on my TV!”

​Noughts and Crosses is one of a slate of new dramas for BBC One, including:

The Split

This drama, from Bafta and Emmy award winning screen writer Abi Morgan, examines the fast-paced circuit of high powered female divorce lawyers by looking at three sisters, two of whom are rival family and divorce lawyers and one is still searching for her place in life.

Writer Abi Morgan: “The Split exposes the complex realities of high end divorce and broken marriage through female divorce lawyers and sisters embattled and bound by their own troubled past”

Bodyguard 

Bodyguard comes from the team behind hit BBC crime drama Line of Duty and is written and created by Jed Mercurio. The thriller follows a team of Specialist Protection officers whose duties involve protecting royals, politicians and diplomats – whether they deserve it or not.

Trust Me

An original character-led thriller from Dan Sefton (Mr Selfridge, Secret Diary of  a Call Girl), Trust Me follows Cathy, a hardworking and talented nurse who having lost her job for whistleblowing, is forced to take drastic measures to provide for her daughter. In desperation she steals her friend’s identity as a senior doctor and moves to Edinburgh. With the fragile shell of her lie is at risk, how far will she go to protect herself?