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ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ FOUR, the new culture channel which launches on Saturday 2 March, is to produce an unmade Dennis Potter screenplay, White Clouds, seven years after the celebrated writer died in 1994.

Based on the novel Cara Massimina by Tim Parks, White Clouds is a comic thriller which tells the story of an underpaid English teacher in Italy. In his attempt to penetrate well-to-do Veronese society, he ends up coming close to destroying it. Morris Duckworth tries to marry his way to wealth by exploiting the affections of the delightful teenage Massimina, and eventually they run off together. But it is a kidnap or an elopement? The story is part love story, part comedy of self-justification, and part a chronicle of an appalling crime.

Roly Keating, Controller of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ FOUR, said: “Dennis Potter is one of the greatest screen writers of the last century, and this is a forgotten but characteristically brilliant piece of work. ItÂ’s fast paced, outrageous and very funny.”

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ FOUR has commissioned Union Pictures to make what it is hoped will be the first in a series of rehearsed readings of great unmade screenplays, with the cream of international acting and directing talent.

Union Pictures is part of the Union Media Holdings Group, which also includes the film production company Natural Nylon Entertainment, whose partners include Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Jonny Lee Miller, Sadie Frost and Sean Pertwee.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ FOUR, the new ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ subscription-free digital channel, goes on air at 7.00pm on Saturday 2 March, with a simulcast on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TWO. It is a rich mixed genre channel that is available on digital satellite, cable and through an aerial.

Union Pictures has produced several award-winning dramas for the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, including the BAFTA-award winning An Ungentlemanly Act and a four-part serial of Iain BanksÂ’ The Crow Road. Their latest drama series, Rockface, will be shown in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ONE later this month.

White Clouds will be produced by Geoff Deehan and Kevin Loader for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ FOUR. The director and cast will be announced shortly.