TV Adaptation Buzz Revives NY Times Bestseller Wax Fruit

It’s the story everyone in Scotland—and beyond—is talking about. Guy McCrone’s Wax Fruit trilogy has reignited a national fervour, with readers clamouring for copies online and second-hand bookshops sold out. Calls for its television adaptation grow louder by the day, as the trilogy captures imaginations with its vivid portrayal of Victorian Glasgow, known as the Second City of the Empire – a city at the top of its game which was literally inventing and building the modern world.

Now, in a landmark moment that underscores its cultural significance, Wax Fruit is making a triumphant return to the University of Strathclyde’s module The Glasgow Novel in 2025, reaffirming its place as a cherished icon of Scotland’s literary legacy.

Sarah Purser – Photo by Gerardo Jaconelli

The driving force behind the revival is University of Strathclyde alumna Sarah Purser, now Showrunner and Executive Producer at Little White Rose Films. Purser has been instrumental in securing global attention for Wax Fruit, with a passionate mission to adapt it for television. Alongside Executive Producers Tommy Gormley and AJ Riach — whose credits include some of Hollywood’s most iconic movie franchises — the team is reimagining McCrone’s work as a sweeping multi-season TV epic for a global audience.

First published in 1947, McCrone’s trilogy chronicles the rise of the ambitious Moorhouse family against the backdrop of Glasgow’s booming industrial age. The best-seller, known internationally as Red Plush in the United States and released across multiple countries, captured hearts worldwide. However, a dramatic upsurge in interest has created a global shortage with lengthy waiting lists at libraries across the UK.

“This is an epic,” Purser declared. “We’re talking a minimum of five seasons, each packed with 10 episodes. The story spans generations, and just as viewers will fall in love with our audacious heroes, Bel and Arthur Moorhouse, they’ll be captivated by the legacy their descendants carry forward.”

Dr. Eleanor Bell, Postgraduate Research Director for the Department of Humanities and Senior Lecturer in Scottish Literature at the University of Strathclyde, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the trilogy’s educational importance: “Wax Fruit captures the spirit of Glasgow during one of its most pivotal eras, offering invaluable insights into Scotland’s social and industrial history. By reintroducing it to the curriculum, we’re ensuring that its literary and cultural significance continue to inspire new generations”.

Purser has already created a seven-minute teaser trailer which is poised to be shared with TV executives. She describes the project as, “An epic, fuelled by passion, black humour, raucous laughs, malt whisky – and a frightening dose of ambition. There’s no messing about – bold, brave, beautiful women and sexy, sharp, stubborn men taking on the world.”

Featuring a roll call of stars including Martin Compston, Ashley Jensen, Shirley Henderson, Molly Windsor, Juliet Cadzow, Bill Paterson, Elaine C Smith and breakthrough newcomer Frankie Corio, the teaser’s acclaimed creative team included BAFTA-winning screenwriter Andrea Gibb; Academy Award nominee DOP Michael Coulter, and BAFTA-winning production designer Andy Harris. Directed by Morag Fullarton, with an original score by Emmy-winning composer Tommy Reilly. 

With the re-release of the book poised to meet surging global demand, Wax Fruit is set to reclaim its place as a literary treasure. The upcoming TV adaptation once commissioned, combined with the trilogy’s return to bookshelves and academia, promises to reignite a worldwide appreciation for McCrone’s evocative storytelling and Glasgow’s rich history.

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