'Detective' to credit Minghella, Pollack

Will receive executive producer billing

By Mimi Turner

Dec 1, 2008, 06:11 PM ET

LONDON -- Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack will receive posthumous executive producer credits as the BBC moves forward with its six-part TV series based on Alexander McCall-Smith's "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency."

The series, officially announced Monday, continues the vision of Minghella, whose feature-length adaptation of the first book premiered to huge success in the U.K. shortly after his death in March. Pollack, whose Mirage Enterprises -- a co-venture with Minghella -- co-produced the telefilm, died two months later.

Filming has begun on location in Botswana on six 60-minute episodes, which will chronicle the poignant and amusing adventures of Precious Ramotswe, the proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana.

Grammy winner Jill Scott will reprise her role as Botswana's first female sleuth and be joined by Anika Noni Rose, Desmond Dube, Lucian Msamati and Paterson Joseph.

The series was commissioned by outgoing head of BBC Fiction Jane Tranter and will be produced by Timothy Bricknell and executive produced by Richard Curtis. Charles Sturridge and Tim Fywell will direct.

"We were all thrilled with the reception the film received earlier this year from both critics and BBC viewers. Anthony was so proud of the project and would have been delighted to see it do so well," Bricknell said.

Tranter said she was "deeply proud" of the project and hoped it will be a fitting tribute to Minghella's "beautifully vibrant film," which drew an audience of almost 7 million when it aired in March on BBC1.

The series is a Mirage Enterprises and Cinechicks production in association with the BBC, HBO and the Weinstein Co.

'Detective' to credit Minghella, Pollack

Will receive executive producer billing

By Mimi Turner

Dec 1, 2008, 06:11 PM ET