BBC puts emphasis on drama as it announces new series for year ahead

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

Having tackled the Tudors, the BBC is taking on the Yorks and the Lancasters in what promises to be an epic BBC1 drama about the War of the Roses.

In a twist on the male-dominated lens through which history is frequently viewed, the epic serial about one of the bloodiest periods in English history will be told from the point of view of powerful women who "shaped their men and who shaped history in the process".

They include queens, mothers, lovers and "witches" and the drama reminds viewers that at the time women could still be burned at the stake for sorcery.

The War of the Roses is an adaptation of Philippa Gregory's best-selling series of books The Cousin's War and is part of a renewed focus on BBC1 drama.

The BBC said that it is yet to cast the drama or decide the number of episodes.

Witches are also the subject of BBC1's traditional festive treat for children.

Following the success of airing author Julia Donaldson's children's books The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child in the past two festive seasons, BBC1 and Magic Light Pictures are bringing another one to life this December called Room on the Broom.

Also on the cards for Christmas is a three-part adaptation of what TS Eliot called "the first and greatest of English detective novels", Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone.

The drama follows Sergeant Cuff of Scotland Yard as he tries to uncover a crime involving the theft of an Indian jewel by a British army officer at the storming of a Maharajah's palace.

Halloween will be marked by BBC1 with a three-part drama taken from James Herbert's haunted house chiller The Secret of Crickley Hall.

BBC1 will also feature new contemporary dramas with Ben Stephenson, controller of drama commissioning, announcing the arrival of Truckers.

Written by William Ivory and made by Company Pictures, the six-part series follows a group of men and women who work for the same haulage company driving 40-ton articulated lorries across the Midlands.

The BBC described it as "a warm, funny, bitter-sweet character-driven show about getting by in difficult times".

Sean Bean is to join the cast of Accused. Photograph: Matt Squire/BBC/RSJ Films

Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch in London, Stephenson revealed that Sean Bean, Anna Maxwell Martin and Stephen Graham will be joining the cast of the next series of Jimmy McGovern's Accused.

He also said that Sir Derek Jacobi and Sarah Lancashire will be appearing in writer Sally Wainwight's new series about rekindled love, called Antony and Cleopatra.

Antony and Cleopatra is actor Derek Jacobi's first TV drama series since he appeared in ITV's monk drama Cadfael in the mid-1990s.

Other casting announcements made by Stephenson included Matthew Macfadyen taking the lead role in Tiger Aspect's new Jack the Ripper drama Ripper Street and Hayley Atwell to star in William Boyd's Restless.

In addition, Ben Miller island crime series Death in Paradise is being recommissioned for a second eight-part series and Denis Lawson is joining the cast of veteran detective show New Tricks.

Stephenson revealed that Denis Lawson, who is best known for his role of Holby City and appeared in the BBC's adaptation of Bleak House, is to become the new lead of BBC1 drama New Tricks. Lawson replaces former Likely Lads actor James Bolam who is leaving the show.

"2012 is a massive year for drama on BBC1 as Danny Cohen [controller of BBC1] and I up the scale and pace of our output in order to secure the next generation of mainstream hits, risk taking and originality," said Stephenson. "The unique nature of our funding means that only BBC1 drama can bring you this kind of quality and range to ensure there really is something for everyone."

He added: "I believe BBC1 showcases the biggest and broadest range of what mainstream drama can offer of any channel in the world. This year alone will see BBC1 launching over 20 new titles, as well as bringing back over 15 returning series."

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