‘Harry Potter’ author J.K. Rowling’s novel for BBC1

J.K Rowling‘s best-selling first adult novel, ‘The Casual Vacancy‘ is to be adapted exclusively for BBC One from Rowling’s publishers The Blair Partnership with Rowling collaborating closely with the project.

Cast announced for The Casual Vacancy

The novel is set in Pagford, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils… Pagford is not what it first seems.

J.K. Rowling says: “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.”

Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama, adds: “We are thrilled to bring J.K. 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.”

An independent production company operated by Neil Blair, on behalf of The Blair Partnership will produce the series, Rick Senat, shall engage the executive series producer. The deal was struck following discussions between Neil Blair and BBC One Controller Danny Cohen.

The number and length of the episodes for ‘The Casual Vacancy‘ is still to be decided once the creative process has formally begun. Transmission is expected for 2014 on BBC One.