Top Telly - BBC TV series: Emma

Romola Garai (Atonement, Vanity Fair) stars as the "handsome, clever and rich" Emma Woodhouse in BBC One's fresh and witty adaptation of Jane Austen's comic masterpiece Emma.

Adapted by BAFTA-winning writer Sandy Welch (Our Mutual Friend, Jane Eyre, North And South) this humorous and perceptive serial from BBC Drama Production provides a rich insight into one of Austen's most complex characters.

Dominating the small provincial world of Highbury, Emma believes she is a skilled matchmaker and repeatedly attempts to pair up her friends and acquaintances.

Over four hour-long episodes the drama follows the dire consequences of Emma's failed schemes in this clever comedy of realisation and self-discovery.

The esteemed and impressive cast also includes Michael Gambon (Cranford, Gosford Park) as Emma's affectionate, neurotic father who unusually allows her to be mistress of their household; Jonny Lee Miller (Byron, Eli Stone, Trainspotting) as Mr Knightley, Emma's shrewd and attractive neighbour, whose strength of character is in sharp contrast to her father; Jodhi May (Einstein And Eddington, Friends And Crocodiles) as Miss Taylor, Emma's former governess who marries the good-humoured Mr Weston played by Robert Bathurst (Cold Feet, White Teeth, My Dad's The Prime Minister); and Tamsin Greig (The Diary Of Anne Frank, Green Wing) as the incessantly chatty, well-meaning Miss Bates whose poverty draws the pity and goodwill of all of Highbury.

Emma was first published in 1815. Set in Regency England, it was the last Jane Austen novel to be published before the author's death in 1817, and is one of her most popular and best-loved books.

The four x 60-minute serial is produced by BBC Drama Production and was filmed in late spring/early summer 2009 around the Home Counties.

Phillippa Giles (Jane Eyre, The Alan Clark Diaries, North And South) is the executive producer with George Ormond (Silent Witness, EastEnders) producing the serialisation.

Emma was commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, Drama Commissioning, and Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, for BBC One and transmited in autumn 2009.

BBC Drama Production Emma staring Romola Garai

An insight into one of Jane Austin’s complex character

Starring Romola Garai, Michael Gambon, Jonny Lee Miller, Jodhi May, Robert Bathurst and Tamsin Greig