Dougray heads cast for BBC's Day of the Triffids

BBC One is to remake a star-studded version of the sci-fi classic The Day of the Triffids. Dougray Scott, Joely Richardson and Eddie Izzard will appear in the apocalyptic two-part drama due for transmission later this year. Based on John Wyndham's best-selling novel, the story follows a battle for survival between a blinded human race, a few sighted survivors and the flesh-eating Triffids. Written by Patrick Harbinson - the man behind ER and Law & Order - the series will also star Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave and Jason Priestley. Dougray Scott, who appeared in Desperate Housewives as Teri Hatcher's love interest, stars as Dr Bill Mason, the brave leader, played by John Duttine in the 1981 TV series. Justin Bodle, the executive producer, said: "We are enormously excited to have secured this stellar cast for The Day of the Triffids. Together with amazing effects and iconic locations, we will deliver the drama mini series event of 2009." Filming has begun in the south-east of England and is due to finish in April. Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.