Lesley Thorne
Lesley Thorne has been Managing Director since 2017 and runs the Film and TV Department at Aitken Alexander, which she founded in 2004. Alongside her work on book to screen (and stage), she represents novelists, non-fiction writers and screenwriters with a particular emphasis on guiding authors to write for screen.
She began her career in publishing on the editorial side, working first for Fourth Estate in the late 90s, then Viking and Hamish Hamilton. She joined Aitken Alexander in 1999 to assist Gillon Aitken and in 2004 began to focus on dramatic rights in the agency’s books alongside developing her own client list.
Recently released screen adaptations she has negotiated include Clara Salaman’s 3-part adaptation of her novel Too Close on ITV1 in Spring 2021, produced by Snowed-In Productions and starring Emily Watson and Denise Gough, both nominated for Best Lead Actress BAFTAs; Hat Trick Mercurio’s 3-part production of Rachel Clarke’s memoir Breathtaking (which Rachel co-wrote and exec produced) starring Joanna Frogatt and broadcast on ITV1 in March 2024; Hera Pictures’ production of Mary and George for Sky and Starz, a limited TV series based on Ben Woolley’s biography of James I, The King’s Assassin starring Julianne Moore; and Element Pictures’ September Says, written and directed by Ariane Labed, a feature adaptation of Daisy Johnson’s novel Sisters was in competition at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard category, 2024, and will be released by MUBI in UK and Ireland early in 2025.
The following feature adaptations are in post-production with release dates to be announced: Max Porter’s Grief is the Thing with Feathers adapted and directed by Dylan Southern, produced by Lobo Films, Sunnymarch Films and Film4 starring Benedict Cumberbatch; Steve, Max’s own feature adaptation/reimagining of his novel Shy for Cillian Murphy’s company Big Things for Netflix UK, starring Cillian and directed by Tim Mielants; and Willy Vlautin’s third feature film based on his novels… The Night Always Comes shot in Portland, Oregon, and was adapted by Sarah Conradt, directed by Ben Caron and stars Vanessa Kirby and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Produced by H2L Media and Kirby’s own company Aluna Entertainment for Netflix US.
Lesley represents the whole agency’s book to screen business, about which more info can be found on the Film/TV page of this website. Her own clients include: for screenwriting and book to screen, prize-winning author and screenwriter Kevin Barry; for screenwriting, Rebecca Frayn (Misbehaviour, 2020); memoirist and musician Peter Hook (The Hacienda: How Not to Run a Club, S&S, 2010, & Substance, Inside New Order, S&S 2016); comedian and travel writer Dom Joly (The Conspiracy Tourist, Robinson Books 2023, best known for the international hit Trigger Happy TV); novelist and screenwriter Clara Salaman (Too Close for ITV in Spring 2021, first published by Transworld, 2019); Australian bestselling/prize-winning novelist and screenwriter, Craig Silvey (Runt, Allen & Unwin, 2023, the film adaptation of which Craig wrote and is released theatrically in Australia in September 2024); prize-winning novelist, screenwriter & music writer Matt Thorne (Prince, Faber 2012, reissued in July 2024, 8 Minutes Idle adaptation, 2012, new book under contract with White Rabbit, Orion); and prize-winning novelist and musician Willy Vlautin (The Horse, Faber UK/HarperCollins US, 2024). She has helped launch Megan Hunter and Oyinkan Braithwaite’s screenwriting careers. She also represents the literary estates of Babette Cole and John Fowles. For a full list of her screenwriting clients see here.
For screenwriting approaches, please see the submissions page for more guidance. Mainly focused on Film and TV, so not really looking for publishing clients currently but enjoy working with authors who work across both mediums. Anything considered has to feel a good fit for an agency that specialises in quality writing and storytelling. Distinctive voices and original storytelling always at the top of the agenda.
She is supported by Alice de Abaitua, who can be reached at alice@aitkenalexander.co.uk. However, please only submit via our submissions page (not directly to Alice) and put Lesley’s name in the subject heading if you want to flag it for her review.