BACKSTABBERS BIBLE
a television series pitch deck
OVERVIEW
1
Logline
From a naïve school leaver in the 1970s to a seasoned writer in the 2020s, Stuart Ostridge navigates six decades of murder, ambition, and deception, chasing literary success across theatre, film, and publishing—while entangled in a lifelong, will-they-won’t-they relationship with the enigmatic actress Lena Darrow. As each decade brings new cultural shifts, betrayals, and dark mysteries, Stu must decide: how far is he willing to go for the story of a lifetime?
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Target Audience
Adults aged 25–55 who enjoy dark comedy, mystery, and character-driven dramas, particularly those who appreciate witty, satirical storytelling set against rich historical backdrops. It appeals to fans of Only Murders in the Building, Fargo, and Derry Girls, blending murder, ambition, and deception with evolving cultural and political shifts across six decades.
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Themes
Each series explores ambition, deception, and the power of storytelling, following Stuart Ostridge’s pursuit of success across six decades. Through shifting cultural and political landscapes, the series examines whether one can truly balance creative integrity with personal ambition.
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Genre
Comedy murder/mystery; coming-of-age, nostalgia.
THEMES
1
1979
The power of politics: How deception and disillusionment promotes self-interest.
2
1987
The power of greed: How winner-takes-all gets you what you want.
3
1999
The power of celebrity: How fame can get you anything - even off the hook for murder.
4
2007
The power of fear: How people can be controlled by lies in order for others to gain from it.
5
2016
The power of conspiracy: How corruption and manipulation can bury secrets of the past.
6
2029
The power of chaos: How existential anxiety increases fragmentation and exploitation - chaos resets the game board - some will rise, many will fall, and what comes next is uncertain.
STORYLINE & CHARACTER THEMES
Each season of Backstabbers explores different aspects of power, ambition, and deception, but overarching themes connect Stu Ostridge’s journey across six decades:
1
The Price of Ambition
Artistic integrity vs. commercial success. How can Stu achieve his dreams without selling his soul?
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The Evolution of Truth
- Stu’s career is storytelling, but he often finds himself caught in—or shaping—narratives of deception, cover-ups, and reinvention.
3
Love & Self-Destruction
Stu and Lena’s turbulent relationship is shaped by timing, ego, and personal ambition. Their paths keep crossing, but can love survive ambition and betrayal?
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The Corrupting Influence of Power
Each season explores how different forces—politics (S1), greed (S2), celebrity (S3), fear (S4), conspiracy (S5)—shape those who seek influence. Stu both challenges and benefits from these forces, as his career is shaped by each era’s dominant power structure.
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The Cost of Reinvention (Legacy & Identity Over Time)
Across six decades, Stu changes—sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. As he ages, does he become wiser, or just another product of the system he once rejected?
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The Dark Side of Creativity (Art, Ego, & Betrayal)
Stu’s career is tied to betrayal—people stealing work and opportunities, backstabbing colleagues, artistic compromises. Every decade, art becomes a battlefield, where friendships and morals are tested.
The Ultimate Question of Backstabbers By the time Stu reaches the 2020s, has he succeeded on his own terms—or has the pursuit of success changed him into someone unrecognizable?
TREATMENT
The six seasons of Backstabbers progresses from the end of the seventies, through the eighties, nineties, two-thousands and twenty tens, before closing at the end of the twenty-twenties.
The show will chart the progression of Stuart Ostridge, starting as a hopeful but unworldly youth through the many stages of his life: The wins, the losses, forever brushing up against fame and achieving his life's dreams but never quite attaining it.
There is an on/off/will-they-won't-they relationship with his school crush Lena Darrow, who forever outmanoeuvres him, be it with creative talent or romantic interests. Each series represents a state of their bond, from blossoming interest to love to hate and beyond.
There will be a supporting cast of characters who also grow and are shaped by the times, often reflecting the times in comedic and knowing representations. Some of these characters will come and go (sometimes naturally, sometimes meeting an unfortunate end), some will remain throughout.
Nostalgia plays a huge part, as the respective eras are the backdrops to Stu's on-going story. With each season, Stu will be in a different place within himself, as the story charts the ruining of hopes and dreams, the on-going struggle of continuing in the face of failure and disappointment, and the effects and changes which occur in a person - especially when there are masked killers involved.
SEASONS
1
1979
Thatcher, Punk Rock, The Cold War, Rise of Feminism - and Jaws.
Disillusionment, rebellion, economic struggle, culture-shifts.
2
1987
Reagan & Thatcher, AIDS, Threat of Nuclear War, Strikes, Yuppies - and Freddy Krueger.
Greed, health crisis, Cold War tensions, economic divides.
3
1999
Y2K, OJ Simpson, the Internet, Tabloid death, Grunge, Girl Power, Clinton & Blair, End of the Cold War
Celebrity culture, tech revolution, globalization, political optimism.
4
2007
9/11, Financial Crash, Reality TV, Rise of Social Media, iPhone & Climate Awareness
War on Terror, tech boom, reality TV, financial collapse.
5
2016
Celebrity deaths, Trump wins, Streaming Wars, Rise of Memes & Tiktok, Mental Health awareness, Brexit, Greta Thunberg, MeToo, Fake News
Political division, social justice movements, digital misinformation, cultural globalization.
6
2029
Covid, Rise of AI, Economic Uncertainty, Deepfakes, Quiet Quitting, Political Unrest, Backlash against Franchises, Trump Returns, Putin invades, Musk buys - and war.
Pandemic aftermath, AI revolution, economic crisis, growing anti-establishment sentiment.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Stuart Ostridge
A struggling writer, Stu leaves school with aspirations of being a writer, with forays into theatre, teaching, film, novels and biographies… with varying degrees of failure.
Lena Darrow
A naturally talented performer who climbs professional and social ladders to achieve her dreams, often using other people's heads to tread on.
Emily Fothergill
A Jane Austen obsessive who has never knowingly underplayed anything, she dreams of Lena's ability and success, but falls short every time.
Gary Blenny
A man of ambition, Gary's determination is matched only by his lack of ability. Confrontational and annoying in equal measure - what you see is what you get.
Alan Gould
Having fronted seventeen rock bands by the age of nineteen, Alan's desire for a good time often comes at the expense of true success. But with maturity and failure comes wisdom…
Celia Landaker
The grand dame of local am-dram theatre, Celia's Thatcherite desire for power and leadership often threatens the world she claims to live for: Theatre.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Primary Audience
- Adults aged 25–55 who enjoy dark comedy, mystery, and character-driven dramas.
- Fans of witty, satirical, and genre-blending storytelling that mixes humor, suspense, and emotional depth.
- Viewers who appreciate period settings and cultural nostalgia, as each season explores a different decade.
Comparable Audiences
- Fans of Only Murders in the Building (murder mystery + humor + quirky characters).
- Viewers of Fargo (darkly comedic crime stories with evolving settings and time periods).
- Lovers of Scream and Knives Out (meta, self-aware takes on mystery and thriller tropes).
- Audiences who enjoyed Derry Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (sharp-witted, period-set character stories).
Appeal & Unique Selling Points
- A Long-Form Character Study: Stu’s journey spans decades, allowing audiences to grow with him and explore how ambition, regret, and relationships evolve over time.
- A Mix of Genres: Balancing dark comedy, murder mystery, and industry satire, making it engaging for audiences who enjoy multiple genres.
- Cultural & Historical Relevance: Each season immerses viewers in a new decade, appealing to those who enjoy period storytelling with rich detail.
- Strong Character Dynamics: The on-again, off-again romance between Stu and Lena provides an emotional throughline, appealing to audiences invested in long-running character relationships.
COMPARABLES
Boyhood
A story which spans years of the characters' lives, from the late 1970s to the 2020s.
Twin Peaks
A community of characters, ranging from the odd to the familiar - but all with their natural and extraordinary qualities.
Scream
Blending scares with meta humour, witty dialogue and a young cast.
THE WRITER
Andrew Wright is a screenwriter and author who has worked in various roles in the film and television industry, alongside Lord Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park), Dominic West (The Wire), and Kathy Burke (Nil By Mouth). His first student film was co-funded by Terry Gilliam (12 Monkeys).
MUSIC PLAYLIST
A selection of music from each season, from 1979 to present day.
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