BBC Publicity---March 1999

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Bill Paterson, Michael Gambon, Francecsa Annis,

Keeley Hawes, Justine Waddell and Iain Glen star in

Wives and Daughters a major new drama serial for BBC ONE

 

From the team responsible for Pride And Prejudice comes a television adaptation of

Wives and Daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell's humerous and endearing novel, adapted by

Andrew Davies and produced by Sue Birtwistle.

 

"Wives and Daughters brings together an extraordinary line-up of some of Britain's

best acting talent combining both established names and stars of the future," said Jane

Tranter, Senior Executive Producer, BBC ONE Serials.

 

The cast includes Bill Paterson (The Crow Road), Michael Gambon (The Singing

Detective), Francesca Annis (Reckless), Keeley Hawes (Our Mutual Friend), Justine

Waddell (Great Expectations) and Iain Glen (The Blue Room). This new adaptation is

directed by Nicholas Renton.

 

Other cast members include: Barbara Flynn, Ian Carmichael, Elizabeth Spriggs,

Penelope Wilton, Barbara Leigh Hunt and Michael Bryant.

 

"I think the reason this wonderful book is so little known is that Gaskell died just

before completing it," says producer Sue Birtwistle. "It's very clear what she wanted to

happen, but not how it was to come about, so we've had great fun plotting the ending

that we hoped she herself might have written".

 

Set amid the broad range of middle-English society on the eve of the Industrial

Revolution, Wives and Daughters tells the story of Molly Gibson (Justine Waddell).

Brought up from childhood by her father (Bill Paterson), at seventeen she acquires a

stepmother (Francesca Annis) and a beautiful step-sister, Cynthia (Keeley Hawes).

 

The loveable, but worldly, Cynthia brings Molly both joys and woes. Men, of course,

are the problem in the form of Squire Hamley's sons Osbourne (Tom Hollander) and

Roger (Anthony Howell) and the mysterious Mr Preston (Iain Glen). The intrigue of

thei lives develops under the watchful eye and wagging tongues of village society.

 

"Wives and Daughters is about the ordinary mysteries of life: where does love come

from, how does it grow, how it can twist and sour and corrupt us, how it can break our

hearts, how it can bring us happiness and fulfilment. And more than almost any book I

know, Wives and Daughters, this neglected masterpiece, tells us what it feels like to be

alive," said Andrew Davies.

 

Wives and Daughters is produced by Sue Birtwistle (Pride And Prejudice, King Lear)

and directed by Nicholas Renton (Far From The Madding Crowd, Hamish Macbeth).

The executive producers are Jane Tranter for BBC Television and Rebecca Eaton from

WGBH.

 

Filming takes place in the Lake District, Yorkshire, Wiltshire and Elstree Film Studios

from March until July 1999.

 

A BBC Production in association with WGBH/Boston,

developed with CHESTERMEAD Ltd.

 

 

 

Issued; March 1999