5 commissions major new factual drama 'To Nicola, Love Peter' (w/t) 

Exploring the story of Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell 

5 has commissioned Wonderhood Studios to produce To Nicola, Love Peter (w/t), a major new, 1 x 90’ factual drama telling the story of how Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, embezzled £400,000 from the SNP over a 12 year period.    

The project reunites Wonderhood Studios with 5's factual and scripted commissioning teams following the success of Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards* and draws on an extensive range of factual sources including evidence gathered by Police Scotland, The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service; extensive TV and newspaper interviews with Nicola Sturgeon; and interviews with other key protagonists.   

By the end of 2022, Nicola Sturgeon was Scotland’s most popular and longest serving political leader. But little did she know that within months, her hard-earned political reputation would be left in tatters when police officers knocked on the door of her family home and arrested her husband in April 2023.    

Nicola came to discover that the man she thought she knew, shared a home with and who helped build her career, had deceived and betrayed her over the course of 12 years. Murrell falsified receipts, gaslit junior staff and used secret codes in order to embezzle £400,000 to bankroll his compulsive shopping habit.   Using money that ordinary citizens and party supporters had donated to fund a historic second referendum on Scottish Independence, Murrell purchased a range of luxury household goods, including high-end coffee machines, luxury watches, a robotic lawnmower, a pressure washer and a £124,550 motorhome as well as spending £2,618.16 on two luxury salt and pepper grinders.    

In May this year, Peter Murrell pleaded guilty and was sent to prison for over 5 years.   When he pleaded guilty, his crimes appeared to be purely financial. But he plunged a whole political movement into chaos, tarnished the legacy of Scotland’s most popular politician and shattered Sturgeon’s and Murrell’s shared ambition of achieving Scottish independence, along with the hopes and dreams of a nation.    This drama lifts the lid on this extraordinary story and how it contributed to the downfall of one of the biggest political figures of a generation.   

Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer, 5 said: “This is an epic tale of Shakespearean proportions.  An extraordinary tale of power, envy, deception and greed.  It's both a high-stakes political melodrama and bizarre domestic drama that has dominated headlines and gossip columns. We will be pulling together the events and characters involved to create a compelling revealing drama, as well as answering that very important question - why would anyone pay £2,600 for a pair of salt & pepper grinders...?!”   

David Abraham, Executive Chairman, Wonderhood Studios said “This project reflects our growing ambition to develop quality dramas about contemporary stories that resonate with broad audiences. We are delighted to be working with the brilliant team at 5 once again”    

To Nicola, Love Peter (w/t) is a Wonderhood Studios production commissioned by Guy Davies (Consultant Editor for Commissioning, 5) and Paul Testar (Commissioning Editor, Scripted, 5).   

Scottish and BAFTA-nominated Director Misha Manson-Smith (The Feed, Kiss Me First and No Offence) is directing. The drama will be written by Scottish BAFTA-nominated Screenwriter Lucy Brydon (Body of Water).  

The Story Producer is Hannah Richards and Director of Production is Lianne Hickey. The Executive Producers are Tom Anstiss, Tom Garton, Samantha Anstiss and Misha Manson-Smith.   

Cast to be announced in the coming weeks.

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Notes to Editors         

*Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards has been watched by 4.3 million viewers to date.

About 5: 

5 is the home of award-winning content from the UK’s third largest commercial PSB, a culmination of the creative transformation of Channel 5 over more than a decade. 5 is part of the Paramount Skydance Corporation.   

Through a mix of live TV channels and bingeable boxsets, the free-to-air service allows UK audiences to watch or stream the breadth of programming from the 5-branded portfolio, the dedicated preschool brand Milkshake!, and a wide selection from the wider Paramount family of brands, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV Entertainment Studios, Paramount+ and more.   

In keeping with its PSB remit, 5 tells the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the UK, featuring well-known faces and fresh new talent. Its programme roster spans original UK drama, premium factual, true crime, science, news & current affairs and kids’ content, which continue to attract critical acclaim.    

Recent wins include Channel of the Year at the 2025 Edinburgh TV Awards, BAFTA Television and RTS Awards for the documentary White Nanny, Black Child in 2024, along with a BAFTA nomination for Endurance Race to the Pole. Factual hit The Yorkshire Vet and the broadcaster’s series on air fryers also won RTS Yorkshire awards, while Michael Palin received the Radio Times Special Judges Award for his Channel 5 documentaries.   

About Wonderhood Studios:  

Wonderhood Studios has been nominated as best production company at the 2026 Edinburgh TV Awards. They produce highly acclaimed and award-winning premium factual series and factual drama for the major broadcasters and streamers. Recent projects include ‘Salisbury Poisonings: The Untold Story’ (Channel 4), ‘Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards’ (5), ‘Michael Jackson: The Trial’ (Channel 4) BAFTA-nominated ‘Evacuation’ (Channel 4), and award-winning ‘Dodi: Last days of a Playboy’ (Paramount +/5).