BBC to adapt Rowling adult novel

BBC1 in the UK has commissioned an adaptation of The Casual Vacancy, JK Rowling’s first novel aimed at adults.

JK Rowling

The series will be produced by an independent production company to be set up by The Blair Partnership, which represents the Harry Potter author.

The number and length of the episodes will be decided once the creative adaptation process has got underway. The series is expected to air in 2014.

The deal with Blair Partnership – whose founder Neil Blair and partner Rick Senat will appoint the project’s exec producer – was struck by BBC1 controller Danny Cohen and drama controller Ben Stephenson.

“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,” said Rowling.

“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,” added Cohen, who last week greenlit a string of new big-budget productions within the genre, including an adaptation of Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

The Casual Vacancy is already a global bestseller, having gone on sale at the end of September.

The novel is set in an imaginary English idyllic village, delving behind its façade to explore the battles between rich and poor, the lives of troubled teenagers and their parents, warring spouses and teachers struggling with their pupils.