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Home > Screenings > WINNERS - C21 Drama Awards 2014 > The Thirteenth Tale
 



ENTRY INFORMATION

Company: Endemol Worldwide Distribution
Name of Drama: The Thirteenth Tale
Name of Production Company: Far Moor Media / DayDay Films
Name of Channel: BBC Two
Date of first Broadcast: 30th December 2013

Adapted by Oscar winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton from a bestselling novel by Diane Setterfield, ‘The Thirteenth Tale’ is set in the modern day and features poignant flashbacks starting in 1940. Biographer Margaret Lea (Olivia Colman) travels to a remote part of Yorkshire to interview a reclusive, ageing, famous writer called Vida Winter (Vanessa Redgrave), and gradually uncovers the secrets of her mysterious childhood at Angelfield House, a house which appears to have been haunted.

Angelfield House stands abandoned and forgotten. It was once home to the March family - fascinating, manipulative Isabelle, brutal, dangerous Charlie, and the wild, untamed twins, Emmeline and Adeline. But Angelfield House hides a chilling secret which strikes at the very heart of each of them, tearing their lives apart. Now Margaret Lea is investigating Angelfield's past - and the mystery of the March family starts to unravel.

‘The Thirteenth Tale’ was an audience hit when it premiered on BBC Two on Monday 30th December 2013, achieving a consolidated audience of 2.9 million viewers. Produced by Far Moor Media / DayDay Films for BBC Two, the telemovie received impressive reviews from the British media:

"The stand out Christmas drama of 2013"
The Independent

"Amazing... Extraordinary and terrifying"
The Guardian

"James Kent's direction is spine chillingly atmospheric...superb"
The Telegraph

"The Thirteenth Tale comes with an impeccable pedigree and an impressively creepy atmosphere....Redgrave extracts every last drop of drama"
The Sunday Times

"Christopher Hampton's masterful adaptation is at once spellbinding, intelligent and artfully chilly. Two award-winning performances."
The Observer

"A magnificent and hypnotic Gothic drama"
The Mirror

“Compelling lead performances by Olivia Colman and Vanessa Redgrave.”
Daily Mail Weekend