Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Colman join BBC Two drama

The Thirteenth Tale, a 90 minute one-off drama for BBC Two is to star Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Colman.

Adapted from Diane Setterfield’s best–selling novel, the script has been written by Oscar winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton and will be directed by James Kent.

BBC Drama Boss Ben Stephenson says: “Building on our record-breaking BAFTA success and BBC Two’s reputation for world-class drama, The Thirteenth Tale is yet another treat for the audience later this year. Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Colman, along with the award-winning team behind the drama, illustrate BBC drama at its best – attracting the highest calibre of talent and making the most ambitious content possible.”

The Thirteenth Tale is a haunting psychological mystery set in the modern day, with poignant flashbacks starting in 1940. The disturbing story begins when a young female biographer, Margaret (Colman), sets out to interview a legendary writer whose health is fading. Vida Winter (Redgrave) has, until now, refused to divulge the dark secrets of her life and past at Angelfield, her childhood home. An unlikely shared empathy is cultivated between the two women, and Vida’s story forces Margaret to finally confront her own ghosts.

Further casting will be released in due course the beeb state. Filming is scheduled to begin in June with the drama airing later this year.