News from the BBC

Andrew Davies reports that the BBC has asked him to scrap Dombey and Son and work on adapting David Copperfield instead.

Hmm.

Not sure what to think about that one. It's true that, as the article says, there have already been an awful lot of David Copperfield adaptations. Now don't go whaling on me, Nibs; you know I love DC. :-) I truly do. It just seems strange that they would have chosen to do it yet again -- and when there's a feature film in the works, too. They must have known that they'd have success with whatever adaptation they chose to do (hello, Bleak House? Little Dorrit? Good numbers, lots of Emmys?). Wouldn't they? So why stick with the "warhorses"?

Well, no one seems to agree on the reason, and there's lots of "he said/they said," and it's all very mysterious. One thing is particularly worrisome, though: the BBC spokesman's remark about "resting" Dickens. I wonder how long this "rest" is supposed to last. They can't have forgotten already about the bicentennial coming up . . . can they?

Comments

[Nibs]

Well of course I'm thrilled about BBC's DC (and it will be over 10 years since DC was last done by the time this one comes out), but I do agree that some of the less-known adaptations should be redone. I bet they still will be, but may be more minor productions like this year's Oliver Twist or the Old Curiosity Shop.

[Marian]

No Dombey and Son?! "Viewers will have to wait several years for the David Copperfield adaptation"?

Very disappointing... Though, I hope that if they're doing warhorses, they will at least do A Tale of Two Cities. I liked that line about "People like bonnets", too. ;)