Theatre News

BBC One to produce six-part Les Misérables adaptation

Andrew Davies will write the series based on Victor Hugo’s 19th century novel

The 2015 cast of Les Mis
The 2015 cast of Les Mis
© Johan Persson

BBC One have announced they are producing a six-part adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.

Bridget Jones screenwriter Andrew Davies will adapt Hugo's original book for a modern audience, with the team that produced the series War and Peace.

Davies said: "Most of us are familiar with the musical version, which only offers a fragmentary outline of its story. I am thrilled to have the opportunity of doing real justice to Victor Hugo at last by adapting his masterpiece for the BBC."

Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil's musical has been running on the West End since 1985, and in 2012 it was made into a film starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

The six hour drama will be executive produced by Lookout Point and Harvey Weinstein for Weinstein Television.

Weinstien said: "Victor Hugo's Les Misérables is one of the greatest novels of all time – and while the musical is one of my favorites this will be completely different."

Casting and broadcast dates for the series are yet to be announced.