Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor to star in new BBC Mapp and Lucia adaptation

By Patrick McLennan
( What's on TV )
published

Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor are to take the lead roles in the BBC's new adaptation of Mapp and Lucia.

The characters from the EF Benson stories about small-town snobbery were previously brought to life by Prunella Scales and Geraldine McEwan for a 1980s series screened by Channel 4.

The new programmes, scripted by The League Of Gentlemen's Steve Pemberton, are to be screened by BBC One.

Miranda - who is to play Elizabeth Mapp - said: "I am so looking forward to a summer of hard work and I hope, great fun. I cannot wait to get my teeth into Mapp - and of course, Lucia."

And Anna, lined up to portray Emmeline 'Lucia' Lucas, said : "I am thrilled to be playing the glorious Lucia. I hope I can do justice to EF Benson's wonderful creations."

Steve's old League Of Gentlemen colleague Mark Gatiss will also take a role as Major Benjy in the three hour-long films.

He said: "It's an absolute treat to be joining my old friend Steve and such a glorious cast to bring them to life."

 

– Press Association

Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan

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.