JK Rowling's Casual Vacancy to become BBC mini-series

JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy is to be made into a three-hour mini-series by the BBC, in collaboration with HBO.

Sarah Phelps has penned the adaptation of Rowling's book, set in the West Country, which follows an unexpected death in a small-town community.

Filming will begin this summer in south west England.

The BBC commissioned the mini-series shortly after Rowling's first adult novel was published in 2012, to mixed reviews.

At the time, BBC One controller Danny Cohen called the Harry Potter author's story-telling "peerless in its popularity".

The book sold 125,000 copies in its first week on the market, becoming the fastest-selling hardback in the UK for three years.

US cable channel HBO, which made its name with cult shows such as The Sopranos and Sex and the City, have previously co-produced Ricky Gervais comedy Extras and 2013's Parade's End with the BBC.

Rowling, who has said in the past that she believes The Casual Vacancy is "best-suited to television", will executive produce the mini-series.