The Woman in White: what to expect from BBC’s latest period drama

The BBC’s adaptation of The Woman in White is set to kick off this weekend, with literature fans curious as to which direction this modern iteration will take.

Here's a glimpse of the storyline and who is involved in the new adaptation.

What is it about?

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The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins’ gothic mystery thriller, originally published in 1859, is a difficult book to adapt to the screen, says the Radio Times, which describes it as a “dense, layered tale of loss and identity, packed with characters who might not be what they seem”.

The story follows Walter Hartright, a teacher who encounters a woman who has escaped from a lunatic asylum on London’s Hampstead Heath.

He later takes up a position as a drawing master in Cumbria, but as he falls in love with one of his pupils, he discovers a connection between her family and the strange woman's troubled past.

How similar will it be to the source material?

Despite being set in the Victorian era, production company Origin Pictures has given it a “modern twist” with their offering for the BBC, says Somerset Live.

However, a 2018 update may not be necessary to keep the book’s observations feeling prescient, writes the Radio Times, adding that “even today [the book] stands out with its surprisingly progressive approach to gender and the rights of women.”

The magazine adds: “And now, in 2018, the TV adaptation will feed into today’s conversations about feminism and sexual violence.”

One of the show’s stars Ben Hardy explains: “This idea of these two women living freely within the strict structure of Victorian society – and then a heinous patriarch coming in and spoiling everything. It felt very relevant.”

Who is in it?

The protagonist Walter Hartright will be played by British actor Ben Hardy, best known for his roles in Eastenders and - more recently - Hollywood blockbuster X-Men: Apocalypse, while Jessie Buckley, known for her role in previous the BBC adaptation of War and Peace, will star as Marian Halcombe.

Joining them are Olivia Vinall (Apple Tree Yard) as Laura Fairlie, Charles Dance (And Then There Were None, Game of Thrones) as Mr Fairlie and Dougray Scott (The Replacement, Mission: Impossible II) as Sir Percival Glyde.

The book was adapted by Fiona Seres, known for her writing on Tangle and The Silence, while Carl Tibbetts (Black Mirror) directs.

When is it on?

The mini-series starts on Sunday 22 April at 9pm on BBC One.