Why film and TV crews were outside Mansion House in York

TV and lighting crews took over St Helen's Square for two days of filming at Mansion House earlier this month.

The former Post Office in Lendal also appeared to be in use while vans belonging to film and TV lighting company PKE Lighting were parked up in the square.

Read more: Photos show film crews in York city centre

The Press now understands the mystery ITV drama is an adaptation of The Confessions of Frannie Langton, the debut novel from writer Sara Collins.

It is likely to be on our television screens next year.

Produced by Drama Republic, the murder mystery drama is split into four parts and tells the story of Frannie Langton.

Set against the dazzling opulence of Georgian London, the plot follows Frannie’s journey from a Jamaican plantation to the grand Mayfair mansion of celebrated scientist George Benham and his exquisitely beautiful wife, Madame Marguerite Benham.

Explaining the plot, ITV said: "In a misguided and monstrous gesture Frannie is gifted to Benham by the man who owns her, John Langton, and she is employed as a maid in the household much to her chagrin.

"As the plot twists and turns, events take a fateful turn as the Benhams are found murdered in their beds, with Frannie lying next to Marguerite.

"Frannie is accused of murder; a murder she can’t remember.  Dragged away to prison, Frannie attempts to piece together the events of that night.  She is deep into a laudanum addiction and unable to recall what happened. Will Frannie recall the haunting events of that night?  All she knows is she loved Marguerite passionately and cannot believe she would have hurt her.

"But if not Frannie, who did commit the double murder? Others have motive, but only Frannie is accused and she will hang if found guilty. What hope does she have?"

It is a fitting cameo for Mansion House, a Georgian building that was once the thriving heart of York society and the upper classes - much like characters George Benham and Madame Marguerite Benham.

The Confessions of Frannie Langton has been commissioned by ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill and ITV Drama Commissioner Chloe Tucker.

The commissioner said: "We are delighted that Sara is adapting her fantastic novel for ITV. Frannie is a character who immediately gets under your skin, and via a twisting and turning whodunnit Sara explores our history with slavery in the UK.

"The Confessions of Frannie Langton is an exciting and compelling drama that will hook and surprise the audience, and I'm also pleased to be working with Drama Republic on their first show for ITV.”

Drama Republic, Script Executive, Rebecca de Souza, has developed the drama and will also executive produce the series.  

Speaking together, Drama Republic's Greg Brenman and Rebecca de Souza said: "The minute we read Sara's book our hearts started racing...what an amazing character she had created in Frannie!

"We desperately wanted to bring her to the screen. We're so delighted to be working with the astonishingly talented first time writer, Sara Collins on this brilliant story which had us hooked from the outset.”