HISTORY will repeat itself as a film crew prepares to visit a stately home that became a landmark in a popular television series.
It was confirmed yesterday that Castle Howard, near Malton, North Yorkshire, will be one of the locations in a new film version of Brideshead Revisited, 26 years after the house was first seen by television viewers all over the world in the classic ITV series.
John Mortimer, the creator of Rumpole of the Bailey, adapted Evelyn Waugh's bestselling novel into 11 episodes for the Granada TV series, which had an all-star cast including Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Diana Quick, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier and Claire Bloom.
Shooting will take place at Castle Howard next month and in early July on the film. The cast will include Ben Whishaw as Sebastian Flyte, Matthew Goode as Charles Ryder, Hayley Atwell as Julia Flyte and Michael Gambon and Emma Thompson as Lord and Lady Marchmain.
It has been adapted by Andrew Davies, whose other work includes Bridget Jones's Diary and Bleak House, and Jeremy Brock, joint author of the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland, a story about the Idi Amin regime in Uganda.
Castle Howard was the home of then BBC chairman George Howard when the 1981 TV series was filmed.
He died in 1984 and the house is now owned by his son, Simon.
He said yesterday: "I am delighted that Castle Howard is to be one of the central players in the new film. Castle Howard undoubtedly provided some inspiration for Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead, with its dome and fountain, and we are proud to be part of the new production."
Waugh's novel, published in 1945, is a retrospective narrative about a declining aristocracy, describing affairs involving men and women over 20 years between the First and Second World Wars. The new film, being produced by Ecosse Films and due for release in 2008, is partly funded by regional screen agency Screen Yorkshire.
Last year, Screen Yorkshire was awarded £10.2m by development agency Yorkshire Forward.
Recent agency credits include Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution, Mischief Night, This Is England and Like Minds.
The house and grounds at Castle Howard will remain open during filming, but opening and closing hours may change.
People wishing to visit can check on www.castlehoward. co.uk
Opening hours will be posted nearer the time and updated regularly.
It had been thought that Chatsworth House, in Derbyshire, was in pole position to feature in the new film, ahead of Castle Howard
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