Totally Effin Sweet

Vanessa Redgrave and her daughter Joely Richardson are among the star cast announced for the BBC's new version of sci-fi classic The Day of The Triffids.

Actor Dougray Scott will play hero Dr Bill Masen, while Eddie Izzard, Brian Cox and US star Jason Priestley will also take roles in the drama.

Filming for the two-part drama finishes in April, and it will be screened on BBC One later this year.

The last TV production of the John Wyndham story was shown in 1981.

End of humankind

The new production will be shown in High Definition for the first time.

Executive producer Justin Bodle said: "We are enormously excited to have secured this stellar cast for The Day Of The Triffids.

"Together with its amazing effects and iconic locations, it will deliver the drama mini-series event of 2009."
A scene from The Day of The Triffids (1981)
The 1981 version starred John Duttine and Emma Relph

The new incarnation has been adapted by screenwriter Patrick Harbinson, who wrote for long-running US medical drama ER.

Set in 2011, millions of people are blinded when they observe a meteor shower, leading to a breakdown in civilisation.

The Triffids, an oil-producing plant crop, escape captivity and begin to breed rapidly and attack people.

It is up to Dr Bill Masen to fight against them to prevent the end of humankind.

His role was played by actor John Duttine in the eighties version.

Scottish-born actor Scott's credits include Desperate Housewives and UK television dramas Soldier, Soldier and The Crow Road.

plaido wrote:I remember the TV seris being quite unerving.

On the subject of remakes I'd love to see them do The The Tripods.