Marian Keyes talks The Walsh Sisters TV adaptation: “I never even considered that I would actually hate it”

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Honestly, as a big fan of Marian Keyes, I was surprised to hear her say she never even thought the BBC’s adaptation of ‘The Walsh Sisters‘ wouldn’t be good! It’s always a little nerve-wracking when you see a beloved book turned into a TV show, so I figured she must have had some anxieties, but apparently not at all – she fully trusted they’d get it right.

The series is based on the author’s books and centers around a quirky, yet endearing, family of five sisters, their religious mother, and their easygoing father, all living in Dublin.

The story centers on a group of sisters connected by shared history, inside jokes, and lingering hurts from the past.

Despite facing challenges like heartbreak, loss, addiction, and the ups and downs of raising children, the Walsh sisters remain connected through their family bond, shared past, and a surprising fondness for power ballads.

I’ve been following the development of ‘The Walsh Sisters’ and it’s fascinating to learn about the creative process! Apparently, though she’s an executive producer, Eleanor Keyes wasn’t at all possessive of the original material. In fact, she was thrilled to give it to Stefanie Preissner, who not only wrote the screenplay but also stars in the show. It’s wonderful to see that kind of trust and collaboration!

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I was already familiar with Stefanie and her writing, so I suggested her for the project, hoping she’d take it on. But you never know how things will ultimately come together, of course.

Keyes explained that the books will change during the adaptation process, and actors will bring their own interpretations to their characters.

Once a director establishes their creative vision for a project, the editing process takes over, making it difficult for anyone to influence the final outcome. My approach was to simply let the team work and trust their instincts – a ‘go with the flow’ kind of attitude.

She likened authors upset about adaptations of their work to a homeowner who sells a property but then complains when the new owners renovate it.

She explained that it belonged to someone else, and that person would create their own unique and beautiful version of it.

Keyes shared their happiness, saying, ‘While you can’t predict how things will turn out, I’m truly delighted with the result. It brings me a lot of joy. Even if things had gone differently, I would have been okay with it – you accept what happens.’

You can currently watch The Walsh Sisters on BBC iPlayer. The show features a talented cast including Preissner, Louisa Harland (known from Derry Girls), Caroline Menton (All Creatures Great and Small), Danille Galligan (House of Guinness), and Máiréad Tyers (Extraordinary).

Don’t miss The Walsh Sisters, premiering on BBC One this Saturday, February 21st, at 9:15pm. You can also watch it anytime on iPlayer.

Don’t miss The Walsh Sisters! Add them to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about scripted TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, keeping readers up-to-date on the newest and best shows. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-02-21 17:04