大象传媒

Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, better known as Fanny Hill, is widely regarded as the first erotic novel in the English language.

Published in 1748, it was banned shortly afterwards for obscenity.

Now the star of Men Behaving Badly and Jonathan Creek, Caroline Quentin, is appearing in a stage adaptation which opens at the Bristol Old Vic next month.

She told our arts correspondent Rebecca Jones: "I had heard of Fanny Hill ...my first instinct was that I wouldn't like it very much."

"As a woman in theatre, I don't want to be involved in something that just makes a point of using my sexuality."

"When I read the play I realised it's much more powerful and interesting than that."

First broadcast Today programme 16 January 2015.