BBC's Bleak House 'to go global'
Posted at 5:44 AM (PST) on Friday, December 16, 2005

BBC News

The BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House is poised to be snapped up by broadcasters around the globe.

BBC Worldwide - the BBC's commercial arm - said there had been a "huge amount" of international interest.

About 20 countries are said to be keen on showing the period drama, which has been aired on BBC One in half-hour episodes with soap-style cliff-hangers.

(In the UK) The final episode of the 15-part series, starring Gillian Anderson and Charles Dance, will be shown today, Friday.

Bleak House, which began on 27 October, has regularly attracted more than six million viewers per midweek episode.

A spokesperson for BBC Worldwide said: "We've had a huge amount of interest from broadcasters around the world. As it's still on air we haven't confirmed any deals, but the people who take our period dramas are saying it's the best that they have seen from the BBC."