JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy to get BBC1 drama adaptation
The Harry Potter author's first novel for adults is about a local council election in the fictional town of Pagford
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.JK Rowling's first novel for adults, The Casual Vacancy, is being adapted into a BBC1 drama.
Published in September, the novel opens with the death of a parish councillor and is based around a local council election.
The best-selling author's first full-length book in five years, it is set in Pagford, a town which appears to be an English idyll but is at war with itself.
Rowling's Harry Potter novels were adapted into blockbuster Hollywood films which launched the careers of Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson as well as attracting the cream of British acting talent.
She said of the new drama: "I'm thrilled that the BBC has commissioned The Casual Vacancy.
"I always felt that, if it were to be adapted, this novel was best suited to television and I think the BBC is the perfect home."
The drama is expected to air in 2014. BBC1 controller Danny Cohen said: "It is thrilling to be bringing the work of JK Rowling to BBC1 audiences.
"JK Rowling's story-telling is, of course, peerless in its popularity and I am looking forward to collaborating with her.
"This project highlights the ambition and scale of BBC1 drama, as well as the ability of modern television to attract the world's biggest talent and most exciting creative ideas."
BBC drama controller Ben Stephenson said: "We are thrilled to bring JK Rowling's extraordinary tapestry of modern Britain to the screen.
"It's a book of such richness that through humour, social commentary and above all fantastic characters, says something insightful and entertaining about the country we live in."
The book was published to mixed reviews, with the Daily Mirror describing it as "a complete joy to read" and an "entertaining evocation of British society today", but the Daily Mail's Jan Moir dubbing it a "relentless socialist manifesto masquerading as literature".
The number and length of episodes for the drama are still to be decided.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments