Ever since Downton Abbey first arrived onto our screens it appears that we are in the middle of a costume drama resurgence. In the past few months we’ve had Mr Selfridge, Ripper Street, The Paradise as well as Downton Abbey’s staggeringly successful third series. Now we add to this BBC1′s The Lady Vanishes an adaptation of The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lena White however this isn’t the first time the story has been bought to the screen. In fact most people will know The Lady Vanishes best as a 1938 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and was later remade in 1979. This latest adaptation claims to modernise the story however I personally feel that nothing new was really offered here.

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Beautiful and Wealthy socialite Iris Carr is familiar with being at the heart of her social group, but when her friends’ unruly behaviour whilst holidaying in the Balkans, she resolves to have some quietness and travel home alone.

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BBC News report today that former Upstairs Downstairs star Keeley Hawes will star in a made-for-TV adaptation of classic whodunit The Lady Vanishes this Christmas.

The star studded cast of the big budget drama also includes Stephanie Cole – who is of course currently starring in Corrie as battleaxe Sylvia, who is Roy Cropper’s mum – and Spooks star, Gemma Jones.

The 90 minutes thrill also boasts The Green Wing’s Julian Rhind-Tutt and Tuppence Middleton of The Spies Of Warsaw fame. Doc Martin’s Selina Cadell will also appear, as will Silk’s Tom Hughes.

Originally directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1938, the thriller has been adapted for TV by Fiona Seres.

The drama tells the story of wealthy young 1930s socialite Iris Carr, who discovers that a woman has disappeared from the train she’s travelling on during a trip across Europe… Read more & comment »