BBC adapting J.K. Rowling's "The Casual Vacancy" for TV

The BBC says it is turning J.K. Rowling's latest book into a television drama.

"The Casual Vacancy," Rowling's first novel for adults, is a darkly humorous saga of modern British life in which a local council election unleashes rivalries and resentments in a small town.

BBC drama controller Ben Stephenson called the book "an extraordinary tapestry of modern Britain" full of "humor, social commentary and above all fantastic characters."

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The novel is Rowling's first full-length book since she finished the "Harry Potter" saga in 2007. It was published in September to mixed reviews but topped best-seller charts.

In a statement, according to Deadline, Rowling said, "I'm thrilled that the BBC has commissioned 'The Casual Vacancy.' I always felt that, if it were to be adapted, this novel was best suited to television and I think the BBC is the perfect home."

The BBC said Monday that the adaptation is due to air in 2014. The number of episodes has yet to be decided.