Crime author Lynda La Plante has confirmed there’ll be no more TV adaptions of her young Jane Tennison series of novels.
The character, originally played by Helen Mirren, was revived by La Plante in the hit prequel novel Tennison which was recently followed by the Sunday Times paperback bestseller Hidden Killers.
An ITV version of Tennison, rebranded Prime Suspect 1973 by the broadcaster, aired this year to widespread poor reviews and falling audience figures.
Many of the highly negative reviews focussed on the cast, especially Stefanie Martini who was deemed to be unbelievable in the role of young Jane.
La Plante, who initially worked on the TV version but left the production last year, today said she’d shared audience and critic dislike of ITV’s casting which said was “far from how I had written” the characters and complained that the series wasn’t “an accurate adaptation of my novel”.
Posting on Facebook the author added: “My decision to leave the production was one of the most difficult and painful experiences in all my years of writing for television.”
She also revealed that news of the show’s axing was broken to her “by email”.
La Plante said: “My readers are a huge part of my life, and I am immensely grateful for the feedback and encouragement I receive at book signings, on social media and via my website. You are the reason I keep writing, so thank you!”
A third book, Good Friday, will be published on August 24th and is now available to pre-order.
And, in a move which will please fans, the author revealed that “the outline for the fourth book is also complete, along with a title which I will share with you soon.”