The BBC have announced today that they will be creating a television show based on J.K. Rowling’s newest book, The Casual Vacancy.  The show is expected to air in 2014, with an unknown episode count, and  J.K. Rowling comments in the press release and says she thinks BBC is the perfect home for the book.

BBC One and BBC Drama have commissioned an exclusive adaptation of The Casual Vacancy from The Blair Partnership, who represents J.K. Rowling.

The series will be produced through an independent production company operated by Neil Blair, on behalf of The Blair Partnership, and Rick Senat, which shall engage the executive series producer. The deal was struck following discussions between Neil Blair and BBC One Controller Danny Cohen.

J.K. Rowling will collaborate closely with the project, with the number and length of the episodes to be decided once the creative adaptation process has formally begun.

The series has been commissioned for the BBC by Danny Cohen, Controller of BBC One, and Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama, and is expected to air in 2014.

The Casual Vacancy is already a global best-seller and is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

The novel is set in Pagford, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils… Pagford is not what it first seems.

J.K. Rowling says: “I’m thrilled that the BBC has commissioned The Casual Vacancy. I always felt that, if it were to be adapted, this novel was best suited to television and I think the BBC is the perfect home.”

Danny Cohen says: “It is thrilling to be bringing the work of J.K. Rowling to BBC One audiences. J.K. Rowling’s story-telling is of course peerless in its popularity, and I am looking forward to collaborating with her. This project highlights the ambition and scale of BBC One Drama, as well as the ability of modern television to attract the world’s biggest talent and most exciting creative ideas.”

Ben Stephenson adds: “We are thrilled to bring J.K. Rowling’s extraordinary tapestry of modern Britain to the screen. It’s a book of such richness that through humour, social commentary and above all fantastic characters, says something insightful and entertaining about the country we live in.”

J.k. Rowling has released The Tales of Beedle the Bard as an eBook to benefit her charity, Lumos, which raises money to help children living in large institutions. The book is available from the Pottermore Shop and is selling for $5.99. 

From the press release:

About Lumos

J.K. Rowling’s book publishers, Little Brown and Company have released the full video of her chat with Ann Patchett in New York City at Lincoln Center from Tuesday night. Parents please be aware that there is strong language in the video.

Thanks to DanRadlciffe.co.uk for uploading the video.

USA Today has posted some highlights from J.K. Rowling’s chat with Ann Patchett at Lincoln Center last night. Magical Menagerie was in attendance and we can tell you it was amazing!

My personal favorite quote of the night happened when a fan asked Rowling if she live be anywhere in the world, magical or real, where would it be. Jo responded by saying the first thought that popped into her head was going to Meriton to get between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy (of Pride and Prejudice.) She admitted that she has a crush on him (that her husband is well aware of) and jokes, “but who doesn’t have a think for Mr Darcy?”

Some quotes from USA Today:

J.K. Rowling quipped Tuesday about the difference between The Casual Vacancy, her first post-Harry Potter novel for grown-ups, and another kind of adult best seller: E.L. James’ erotic Fifty Shades of Grey.

“The difference is that people have sex in my book, but no one enjoys it,” Rowling told 2,500 cheering fans at an event at a Manhattan theater.

Rowling also said:

— She dreaded writing several scenes in her new novel, about social and political divisions in a small English town, particularly a rape, but “it had to happen. It was there for a reason.”

— Her new novel “might be appropriate for the right 14- or 15-year-old, but not any younger than that.” But parents, she added, should discuss the reasons with their children that it’s inappropriate.

— Her biggest challenge in moving from young readers to adults wasn’t “about writing in a contemporary world, in a real world,” but getting “the structure” right of a novel without a central character.

—–

It [the event] drew a screaming crowd that gave Rowling a standing ovation as she walked on stage, prompting Patchett to say, “This is like a Stones concert.”

Patchett, “as a writer and bookseller,” praised Rowling “for doing more for reading than anyone else in my lifetime and for single-handedly keeping an industry alive.”

“No, no, no,” Rowling replied. “That’s way too much responsibility.”

—–

The two authors sat on a stage normally used by the New York City Ballet and often drew laughs, especially when Patchett mentioned the double meaning of “adult novel.”

Both Rowling and Patchett shared they hadn’t read Fifty Shades.

“Everyone tells me the writing is terrible,” Patchett said.

“But that’s porn,” Rowling shot back to laughter. “Have you ever read The Story of O?”

“I went to Catholic school,” Patchett confessed.

“You’d like it even more,” Rowling replied.

—–

When Rowling said she feared some readers may have missed the humor in The Casual Vacancy, Patchett said “it is a story not between evil and good, but between evil and funny.”

During her press tour for The Casual Vacancy, JK Rowling also appeared on CBS This Morning. She discusses the new book, Harry Potter and more with Gayle King and Charlie Rose. A video from the appearance may be watched below:

Earlier this week JK Rowling was interviewed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. A Video of that appearance is now online and may be watched below. In the interview she talks The Casual Vacancy, politics and more! (unfortunately the videos are only available in the US)