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Update - 24 September 2008: this press release posted on 18 August 2008 has been updated to reflect the fact that Emilia Fox has been added to the cast list.

Emilia Fox (Silent Witness, Ballet Shoes), Jodie Whittaker (Tess, Venus), Patrick Baladi (Bodies, Party Animals), Olivia Colman (Peep Show, Beautiful People), Daniel Mays (Funland) and Patrick Kennedy (Bleak House) are to star in a funny and moving, one-off drama for 大象传媒 Four about a publishing legacy.

Funny, moving and very raunchy, Consuming Passion, 100 Years Of Mills & Boon, written by Emma Frost (Shameless), is a drama about the publishing phenomenon that is Mills & Boon.

The two names are synonymous with ripping bodices and one of the most recognisable and compelling genres in literature. But what is the story behind this celebrated 100-year publishing house?

"Interweaving the stories of three very different women, Consuming Passion will shed light on the impact and influence the books had on women's lives over the last century," says Ben Stephenson, 大象传媒 Head of Drama Commissioning.

The first story within the 90-minute drama features Mary (Jodie Whittaker), wife of Charles Boon (Daniel Mays), the wheeler-dealer co-founder of the publishing imprint with his staunch business partner and trusted friend Gerald Mills (Patrick Kennedy).

Their decision to take a chance on the low-brow, high-romance genre proved to be so original and successful it went on to define the course of publishing history as Mills & Boon.

Although Charles was brilliant at identifying the need for "romance" through literature in his publishing empire, he was less adept at identifying it at home.

This story is inspired by the lives of the actual people behind the scenes.

Second is the tale of Janet Bottomley (Olivia Colman), an ordinary spinster devoted to her ailing mother, but at the expense of herself.

Janet's life takes a U-turn when she meets a devastatingly, handsome consultant (Patrick Baladi) who must operate on her mother. Triggering Janet's fantastical yearning for romance, a comedy of errors ensues, changing her world forever.

This story is inspired by the real experience of many women in the Seventies, discovering their voice during a time of societal and sexual revolution.

Finally, Kirstie's story brings the experience of Mills & Boon up-to-date.

A university lecturer in literature and feminist studies, Kirstie (Emilia Fox) is in a stagnating relationship with her partner Nick.

Thwarted, bored and frustrated, she is lecturing to students on romantic literature and its place within our literary canon, when a sexy young stranger (OT Fagbenie) enters her life.

Kirstie's story gives a whole new meaning to the term "sex education"...

Consuming Passion, 100 Years Of Mills & Boon is a 90-minute drama made by 大象传媒 Drama Production, directed by Dan Zeff (Lost In Austen, Worst Week Of My Life) produced by Ben Evans (The Curse Of Comedy, Fear Of Fanny, Fantabulosa!) and Abi Bach (Mischief Night) and executive produced by John Yorke.

It was commissioned by Ben Stephenson.

Filming this month in and around London, the one-off drama will be screened later this autumn on 大象传媒 Four.

It follows in the footsteps of acclaimed 大象传媒 Four dramas Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!; Fear Of Fanny; and the rumbustious Fanny Hill.

大象传媒 Drama Production is a world leader in producing much- loved and critically-acclaimed dramas including Criminal Justice starring Ben Whishaw; Cranford; Oliver Twist; Five Days; Waking The Dead; Silent Witness; Lark Rise To Candleford; Sense And Sensibility; 大象传媒 Four's recent Curse Of Comedy season; 大象传媒 Two's House Of Saddam; plus this autumn's highlights on 大象传媒 One, Survivors; Tess Of The D'Urbervilles and Little Dorrit.

GJ

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