Hannah Waddingham

itv’s Tom Jones – Hannah Waddingham joins the literary adaptation (updated)

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The Game of Thrones and Ted Lasso star will play the seductive and vengeful Lady Bellaston. 

Updated 04/10/22: Thanks to MASTERPIECE, we’ve a first look at Hannah Waddingham in costume for Tom Jones.

As we anticipate the itv adaptation – having loved writer Gwyneth Hughes’ take on Vanity Fair for the broadcaster – we’re thrilled to see some news appearing. While reports suggest the show might not air until 2023, there’s a cracking shot of Hannah Waddingham in costume as Lady Bellaston (via Collider).

Tom Jones: Hannah Waddington as Lady Bellaston

Additionally, the adaptor and executive producer Gwyneth Hughes has spoken about the show, saying:

“Tom Jones is the mother of all romcoms and isn’t that just what we all need after the last couple of years of misery? It’s a story where the sun barely stops shining, where love conquers all, and at its warm heart stand a pair of young sweethearts everyone can root for.

Henry Fielding’s 18th century novel is sexy and fun; it’s also a dramatic rollercoaster, addressing so many modern concerns around consent, sexual equality and the pursuit of happiness. Tom and Sophia overcome enormous obstacles before finding their way home and to each other. This is a classic adaptation with a wise soul and a great big smile on its face.”

Voice Roles

Ms Waddingham is also taking on a couple of voice roles. She’s joined the cast of the Chris Pratt led Garfield movie (due in 2024), and is also set to play the Greek goddess Deliria in Community creator Dan Harmon’s new animation Krapopolis.

Hannah Waddingham as The Witch Mother

Additionally, her turn as the Witch Mother in Hocus Pocus 2 is now available to stream on Disney+.

We’ll keep you posted on Tom Jones.

Original article continues…

itv’s Tom Jones – Hannah Waddingham joins the literary adaptation

itv have announced that Hannah Waddingham, who recently scored an Emmy® for her role in Ted Lasso, will star in their upcoming period drama. Based on Henry Fielding’s novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, the drama is currently filming in Northern Ireland.

Waddingham is doubtless best known for her role as Septa Unella in Game of Thrones. She also appeared in the 2012 movie version of Les Miserables, as well as Krypton and 12 Monkeys; on stage she has played the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, both in the West End and on Broadway. She is also in the cast of Disney+’s Hocus Pocus 2.

She joins an impressive cast for Tom Jones, with Solly McLeod (The Rising) as Tom, Sophie Wilde (You Don’t Know Me) as Sophia Western and Pearl Mackie (Doctor Who‘s Bill Potts) as Sophia’s trusted maid, Honour.

In the wider ensemble, names announced include James Fleet, Alun Armstrong, Shirley Henderson, Tamzin Merchant, Julian Rhind-Tutt. Susannah Fielding, Daniel Rigby and Dean Lennox Kelly.

Just in case you haven’t read the book, here’s the basics: It’s a rollercoaster story of the title character’s complicated journey to find real love. itv tell us that “Tom Jones has delighted and scandalised readers since it was originally published in 1794.

Cult casting

For cult fans, it will have to go a long to beat the BBC’s 1997 version of the story: the series boasted two Doctors in the cast, Peter Capaldi and Sylvester McCoy, as well as Camille Coduri, Brian Blessed and Red Dwarf‘s Norman Lovett!

Gwyneth Hughes (Vanity Fair) writes this adaptation of Tom Jones. Georgia Parris directs and Benjamin Greenacre is the producer.

The executive producers are James Gandhi, Gwyneth Hughes, Damien Timmer and Helen Ziegler for Mammoth Screen. Susanne Simpson and Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece, and Polly Hill for ITV.

The show is co-production of Mammoth Screen and MASTERPIECE in association with ITV Studios.