No room for Room at the Top?

BBC drama put on hold by rights dispute

by Jasper ReesFriday, 08 April 2011

Coming soon? Matthew McNulty and Maxine Peake in BBC Four's postponed 'Room at the Top'

Anyone turning on BBC Four last night expecting to watch the first episode of Room at the Top will, at least in part, have got what they were expecting: lashings of sex. Only one problem. It wasn't in Room at the Top. Owing to a late-blooming rights dispute, the BBC decided on the day of broadcast not to go ahead with their new adaptation of John Braine's 1957 novel. On the principle that if you would have liked that, then you'll like this, they had a rummage in the archives and produced a rabbit: their version of Fanny Hill, first broadcast in 2008.

Buy

Find John Braine on Amazon

Explore topics

Share this article

The future of Arts Journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more TV

All Creatures Great and Small, Christmas Special, Channel 5 review - Mrs Hall steps into the spotlight Everyday saga of Yorkshire vets does exactly what it says on the tin

Death in Paradise Christmas Special, BBC One review - who killed Santa Claus? Don Gilet steps into the detective's shoes on the island of Saint Marie

Strike: The Ink Black Heart, BBC One review - protracted, convoluted puzzler lifted by its leads The army veteran and his partner are still trapped in a detective-genre script

Black Doves, Netflix review - Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw battle against the implausible Can anyone be trusted in Joe Barton's twisty London drama?

Senna, Netflix review - the life and legend of Brazil's greatest driver You saw the movie, now watch the TV series

Landman, Paramount+ review - once upon a time in the West Billy Bob Thornton stars in Taylor Sheridan's Texas oil drama

Paris Has Fallen, Prime Video review - Afghan war veteran wreaks a terrible vengeance Cynical politicians and amoral arms dealers feel the heat

Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, BBC One review - handsome finale for Hilary Mantel adaptation Mark Rylance is on top form as his Thomas Cromwell re-emerges after nine years

The Day of the Jackal, Sky Atlantic review - Frederick Forsyth's assassin gets a modern-day makeover Eddie Redmayne shoots to kill in lavish 10-part drama

Until I Kill You, ITV1 review - superb performances in a frustrating true-crime story Anna Maxwell Martin and Shaun Evans are compelling, but the script needs more ballast

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Disney+ review - the Boss grows older defiantly Thom Zimny's film reels in 50 years of New Jersey's most famous export

Industry, BBC One review - bold, addictive saga about corporate culture now Third season of the tale of investment bankers reaches a satisfying climax

Follow @theartsdesk