Private Project

Debbie Nesbitt's Not Dead Yet

'Debbie Nesbitt’s Not Dead Yet', takes the unmentionable out of middle-age and the hysteria out of HRT, in a comic celebration of all things menopause. Fired from her job over a series of ‘misunderstandings’(“Who knew you could get mouth thrush from a yeast mask?!”) chaotic, beautician, DEBBIE (49) is convinced she’s in the grip of early onset dementia. But after seeking medical help, reality bites, leaving Debbie spiralling only deeper into middle-aged despair. Cue feisty FLISS BAXTER (53), a ridiculously posh, five-time divorcée turned wedding planner. Over six hilarious half-hours, Fliss teaches Debbie how to navigate a minefield of mood swings, night sweats and brain fog, helping her to embrace her inner youth and rediscover her true self. Meanwhile, Debbie’s health gadget obsessed husband, ROB (52), is suffering a mid-life crisis of his very own. But can the new “Dynamic Debbie” help Rob before his online purchasing addiction brings their marriage crashing down around them?

  • Linda Jane Butler
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay, Television Script
  • Number of Pages:
    35
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Writer Biography - Linda Jane Butler

“Debbie Nesbitt’s Not Dead Yet” is Linda Jane Butler's latest 30-minute TV pilot which is already gathering momentum.(LONGLIST/UK 'Female Pilot Club' competition - September 2022; QUARTERFINALIST/Unique Voices Competition - 2023).

Linda achieved her first writing credit when short story ‘Partners’ was longlisted in the ‘Inktears Short Story Contest’. This darkly comic tale heralded her signature style and was subsequently included in the 2019 anthology ‘When You Read This I Will Be Dead’ (Michael Terence Publishing). October 2020 brought further recognition when short radio play ‘Alphabetti Spaghetti’ was chosen by Scriptwriters & Co for their Zoom-based scratch night and, in January 2021, it went on to win Linda a place in the Slackline Productions 'Sleepover'. Linda’s resulting 10-minute script, ‘Grand Theft Post-Mortem’, was written overnight, rehearsed and performed online in just twenty-four hours. Described as “…absolutely brilliant… funny and so entertaining” the play went on to receive the Audience Choice Award. Re-imagined as a 6 x 30-minute dark, comedy drama for TV, the show has received increasing recognition: a series pitch shortlisting in the TRIFORCE/UKTV Writerslam (May 2021); a series pitch/pilot episode longlisting in the Short Com TV Sitcom Writing Competition (July 2021); ‘finalist’ status, reaching the last five scripts in the ‘Best Shorter Film, TV Pilot or Play Script’ category at the Scriptwriters & Co International Festival (April 2022); a longlisting for the 2022 Funny Women Comedy Writing Award. (Sep 2022); and a quarterfinalist placing in the Table Read My Screenplay Competition - Park City (Dec 2022).

In November 2022, Linda's short comedy “A Couple’s Guide to Plantlife” was performed at The Pleasance Theatre (London) as part of another Slackline Productions 'Sleepover'. And more performances of Linda’s short scripts can be found by visiting the Slackline Productions’ Website/YouTube Channel (‘Grand Theft Post Mortem’) and the Lights Down Productions’ website/YouTube (‘Indigestion’ for the Light On Showcase - Series 2).

Add Writer Biography