BBC One has announced the cast for its upcoming adaptation of “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” the 1928 romance novel by D.H. Lawrence.
Holliday Grainger, who starred in Showtime’s “The Borgias” and A&E’s recent miniseries “Bonnie & Clyde,” will play the title role, with Richard Madden (“Game of Thrones”) playing gamekeeper Oliver Mellors. James Norton, who appears in BBC One’s “Happy Valley,” will play Lady Chatterley’s war-wounded husband Sir Clifford Chatterley.
The novel was considered highly controversial at the time of its publication due to its explicit sexual content, and a trial was held in Britain in 1960 to determine if the book fell under the country’s Obscene Publications Act. It appears in an episode of “Mad Men” as well, with Joan Holloway’s possession of the book causing a stir in the office due to its erotic content.
The 90-minute drama will be written and directed by Jed Mercurio and produced by Hartswood Films in association with Serena Cullen Productions. “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” is one in a series of upcoming adaptations of classic 20th century literature for the network, including L.P. Hartley’s “The Go-Between,” Laurie Lee’s “Cider with Rosie,” and J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls.” Filming on “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” will commence in October to air in 2015.