LONDON – Highly-anticipated brand new drama Vanity Fair lands on ITV Choice this September, a new adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s literary classic.

Following on from the huge success of Victoria, Mammoth Screen brings this adaptation written by Gwyneth Hughes (Dark Angel, The Girl, Miss Austen Regrets).

The period drama stars Olivia Cooke, star of Steven Spielberg’s film Ready Player One, as Thackeray’s timeless heroine Becky Sharp. This must-watch drama makes for compelling viewing following Becky Sharp as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and scale the heights of English society.

Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, follow Becky Sharp’s compelling story of “villainy, crime, merriment, lovemaking, jilting, laughing, cheating, fighting and dancing,” taking her all the way to the court of King George IV, via the Battle of Waterloo, breaking hearts and losing fortunes as she goes.

Michael Palin, the legendary comedian, will play the part of the author, Thackeray, who narrates the scenes as part of a dramatic presentation.

Vanity Fair also stars Claudia Jessie (WPC 56) as Emmy, the second lead. Doctor Foster’s Suranne Jones will play snobbish Miss Pinkerton, while Martin Clunes will play Sir Pitt and Tom Bateman his son, Captain Rawdon. Folk singer Johnny Flynn will play William Dobbin, while Simon Russell Beale and Outnumbered’s Claire Skinner will play the Sedley parents.

View the series trailer:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjDpQmjyb1k&w=560&h=315]

Vanity Fair premieres on 2 September on ITV Choice.