"I can’t wait to go on this journey and bring him to life."

A new series detailing the life of Joseph Merrick, otherwise known as The Elephant Man, has been ordered by the BBC. The two part series, starring Charlie Heaton, will follow Merrick's extraordinary life as he moves from work houses, music halls, and freak shows, eventually forming a pivotal friendship with Dr Frederick Treves. The Elephant Man will start with Merrick's birth and end with his death, presenting audiences with a picture of the man's courage, determination, and bravery as he navigates 19th century Britain with a severe deformity. Merrick spent the last years of his life living with Dr Treves in a London Hospital. The two became great friends after Treves found Merrick being displayed in a shop window near to his place of work. Merrick lived in the hospital until his death in 1890. He was 27-years-old. Heaton, who is best known for playing Jonathan Byers in Netflix's Stranger Things, has said that he is looking forward to portraying Merrick in the show. “I’m extremely excited and honoured to be given the opportunity to take on the portrayal of Joseph Merrick in the BBC’s adaption of The Elephant Man," he said. "This is such a special role and a challenge for any actor. Joseph has such an incredible story and I can’t wait to go on this journey and bring him to life.” The two-part series will be written by Moorside's Neil McKay, directed by Richard Laxton, and produced by Poldark's Tom Mullens. A broadcast date has yet to be released by the network. “Neil’s scripts, chronicling Joseph’s life in its entirety, will shed new light on this story bringing greater depth and humanity to it than ever before," said Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama. "Charlie Heaton promises to be extraordinary in the lead role and we are excited to be telling this powerful, resonant story on BBC One.”