15 books to read on World Book Day that are airing on TV in 2018
Because for some the book is ALWAYS better...especially on World book Day!
15. Watership Down - Richard Adams
Yes. It's happening. Watership Down is being rebooted. Because that 1978 film didn't scar you enough.
Based on the novel of the same name by Richard Adams, the film told the ‘tail’ of Hazel (John Hurt), Fiver (Richard Briers) and a warren of rabbits who had to leave their burrow for the “safety” of Watership Down following seer Fiver’s apocalyptic vision of its destruction.
The new Netflix and BBC co-production is a four part series with a lot of big names on board. Star Wars actor John Boyega will star as Bigwig while X-Men star James McAvoy provides the voice of the heroic buck rabbit Hazel. Skins and X-Men star Nicholas Hoult plays Hazel’s younger brother Fiver who has who has a frightening vision of destruction that kick-starts the story of the good rabbits’ epic – and dangerous – journey to find a safer home.
Gemma Arterton (Made in Dagenham) plays Clover, with Miles Jupp (Rev, The Thick of It) as Blackberry, Freddie Fox (Pride) as Captain Holly, Olivia Colman (The Night Manager) is Strawberry and Anne-Marie Duff as Hyzenthlay.
And you might also want to keep an eye out for news of the following...
A Very English Scandal - John Preston
Hugh Grant returns to TV to star in Russell T Davies' adaptation of John Preston's book about Jeremy Thorpe.
The MP became the first British politician to stand trial for conspiracy and incitement to murder after he allegedly attempted to have his ex-lover Norman Scott (played by Ben Whishaw in the drama) killed to keep his silence over their past affair.
Though Thorpe was acquitted in 1979, it ended his political career and scandalised the nation.
A Very English Scandal is currently in production
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Yes. It's happening. Another Pride and Prejudice adaptation is coming, so there's never been a better time to brush up on the Jane Austen classic about Elizabeth Bennett, her sisters, and of course, Mr Darcy.
Poldark and Victoria producers Mammoth Screen have commissioned acclaimed playwright Nina Raine – author of 2017 hit National Theatre play Consent – to adapt the classic novel, in a version that will aim to tease out the story’s “darker tones”.
There's no air date confirmed for the series just yet, but you can still stick the novel on your ever-expanding reading list.
His Dark Materials - Phillip Pulman
With no cast yet announced it's looking rather likely that the BBC's adaptation of His Dark Materials could take a while to make it to our TV screens.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, because that means you'll have plenty of time to sit down and read Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass before they're adapted for the screen again.
And who could say no to an excuse to read about the wonderful Lyra, her daemon Pantalaimon, and their magical journeys through worlds to discover the secrets of dust and take on the might of the Magisterium? Especially after reading prequel novel, The Book of Dust.
Let's just forget that 'Golden Compass' film EVER happened, shall we?
