Nick Mohammed Adapts The Young Magicians Books Into Animated Series With BBC Studios

Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed is developing an animated adaptation of his children's book series The Young Magicians through a partnership with production studio Blink Industries and BBC Studios Kids & Family. The project was unveiled at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and targets audiences aged eight and older. Mohammed will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the series, drawing from his lifelong fascination with magic.

The Story and Creative Vision

The animated comedy-adventure follows four talented young magicians—Zack, Sophie, Jonny, and Alex—as they navigate secret conspiracies and hidden dangers within London's most exclusive establishment, the Magic Circle. The adaptation is based on Mohammed's two published books in the series: The Young Magicians and The Thieves' Almanac (2017) and The 24-Hour Telepathy Plot (2020).

Mohammed emphasised his personal connection to the material, stating that magic has been his foundational passion since childhood. He described the project as a dream realisation, highlighting his desire to share magic's "rich and bountiful history, its oddness and curiosities" with a broader audience. The creator also confirmed that elements within the series, including booby traps in the Magic Circle library and encounters with real-life automatons, are grounded in actual magical lore.

Production Partnership

The collaboration emerges from Blink Industries' first-look development deal with BBC Studios Kids & Family. Blink, known for producing acclaimed animated titles including Dead End: Paranormal Park and Love, Death & Robots, will lead production with Ayoola Solarin as executive producer overseeing development. James Stevenson Bretton, CEO and co-founder of Blink Industries, praised Mohammed's ability to translate the warmth, humour, and intelligence of his books into television format.

Mohammed brings substantial creative credentials to the project. Beyond his Emmy-nominated role as Nate in Apple TV's Ted Lasso, he has appeared in Slow Horses and co-created the series Intelligence. Most recently, he competed as a contestant on the first series of The Celebrity Traitors in the United Kingdom and is scheduled to host the Olivier Awards in April.