CoP Show: great adaptations

Adaptations come in all shapes and sizes - from theatre to film, from radio to TV. This episode of the CoP Show focuses on what happens when a writer takes a much loved book and adapts it for television.

It’s not possible to just transcribe the novel directly onto the screen as there are constraints of both time and medium. So the writer has to adapt the work knowing the changes they make can be the cause of much heated debate.

Joining Hazel Marshall in the CoP Show studio to discuss what makes a great adaptation are Sarah Phelps and Stewart Harcourt.

Stewart has adapted many Poirots for ITV including Clocks from Christmas 2011 and Treasure Island with Eddie Izzard as Long John Silver for Sky1 at New Year.

Sarah Phelps has adapted the much discussed Great Expectations with Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham for the BBC in December 2011 and Oliver Twist for the BBC in 2007.