Little Women is being turned into a BBC1 series by Call the Midwife creator

CLASSIC NOVEL Little Women is being adapted into a BBC1 series by the creator of Call The Midwife.

Louisa May Alcott’s coming-of-age story, about four sisters on their journey from childhood to adulthood, was first published in 1868.

Drama bosses want the new screen version to “speak to contemporary audiences” and “bring a whole new generation” to the story.

Writer and executive producer Heidi Thomas, creator and writer of hit BBC1 series Call The Midwife, said: “Little Women is one of the most-loved novels in the English language, and with good reason.

“Its humanity, humour and tenderness never date and as a study of love, grief and growing up, it has no equal.

“There could be no better time to revisit the story of a family striving for happiness in an uncertain world and I am thrilled to be bringing the March girls to a new generation of viewers.”

The mini-series will be directed by Vanessa Caswill, whose credits include teenage drama My Mad Fat Diary.

Little Women was an instant success when it was originally penned in two parts and was later adapted for screen and stage several times, including for the BBC.

Executive producer Colin Callender said: “This is a character study of young women, rich in texture and detail, and it’s an honour to be able to bring it to life in this extended form with the great Heidi Thomas, one of the finest writers working in television today.

“In the hands of the exciting directorial style of filmmaker Vanessa Caswill, we hope to deliver a new screen version that will speak to contemporary audiences, meet the expectations of the book’s ardent fans and bring a whole new generation to this great classic.”

The cast for the three-part series has not yet been announced.