Tipping the Velvet (TV series)
| Tipping the Velvet | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Written by |
Sarah Waters (novel) Andrew Davies |
| Directed by | Geoffrey Sax |
| Starring |
Rachael Stirling Keeley Hawes Anna Chancellor Jodhi May |
| Music by | Adrian Johnston |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Georgina Lowe |
| Cinematography | Cinders Forsha |
| Editor(s) | Kristina Hetherington |
| Running time | 177 minutes (3 parts) |
| Distributor | BBC |
| Release | |
| Original release |
|
Tipping the Velvet is a 2002 BBC television drama serial based on the best-selling debut novel by Sarah Waters of the same name. It originally screened in three episodes on BBC Two and was produced for the BBC by the independent production company Sally Head Productions. It stars Rachael Stirling, Keeley Hawes, and Jodhi May.
Directed by Geoffrey Sax, the novel was adapted by screenwriter Andrew Davies. The production was made available on DVD by BBC Worldwide soon after broadcast.
The BBC had previously aired an adaptation of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit in 1990 and some other scenes in dramas to follow, but none had been so explicit. Sally Head Productions defended the decision to air the entire programme uncut. Waters was quite surprised that the BBC chose to produce and broadcast a television adaptation that faithfully followed the relish and detail of sexual escapades in the book. Stirling thoroughly enjoyed the role, despite her avowed heterosexuality: "To counteract any hard-core sex within it, there's a huge sense of humour and a huge sense of fun and frivolity and joy of life. It was so utterly believable that you never for a moment thought, "fuck, there's no reason why I'm standing here naked."
Screenwriter Andrew Davies said he was attracted to the story because it featured a girl transitioning into womanhood and it included his interests in Victorian erotica; he compared it to Pride and Prejudice—for which he wrote the BBC screenplay—"with dirty bits". Both Waters and Davies were concerned about the use of dildos in scenes with Diana, but the BBC allowed it. When news releases told of the BBC featuring swearing and sex toys, the Daily Mail reported that viewers began to protest. BBC representatives downplayed the gratuitousness of the story, comparing it to Moll Flanders.
...
Wikipedia