We can't wait for this.

Say what you like about the BBC, but it really knows its way around a period drama. That's why we're getting very excited about its new adaptation of Little Women. Adapted by Heidi Thomas, the screenwriter who brought Call The Midwife to TV, the classic story will be shown as a three-hour special. The book, originally published in 1868 and 1869 as separate volumes, is set in Civil War-era America and follows the fortunes of four sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy, growing up while their father is away at war. The adaptation is still in development but we're pretty already excited about the cast. It'll star Maya Hawke, daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, as Jo; Big Little Lies' Kathryn Newton as Amy, Scream: The TV Series star Willa FitzGerald as Meg and up-and-comer Annes Elwy as Beth. Also signed up to star are screen queen Angela Lansbury and Sir Michael Gambon, AKA Dumbledore. They'll play the girls' wealthy Aunt March and their kindly neighbour Mr Laurence respectively. Emily Watson, known for films such as The Book Thief, War Horse and Gosford Park, will play the sisters' mother Marmee. Filming for Little Women has been taking place in Ireland since the summer; a call-out looking for extras was released in August. It's being co-produced by US network PBS and sadly won't be on our screens until some time next year. This isn't the first time Little Women has been adapted; it's most recent screen outing was the 1994 version starring Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes and Gabriel Byrne.