An Adaptation of "The Mother of All Rom-coms" Is Coming to PBS

Masterpiece has always been known and acclaimed for adapting classic literature to television, and now it is taking on what is considered one of the earliest novels in the English language: Henry Fielding's The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling, published in 1749. 

The picaresque story follows the growth and misadventures of the title character, played in the new adaptation by the young actor Solly McLeod, who stars opposite Sophie Wilde as Sophia Western. It will be directed by Georgia Parris and written by Gwyneth Hughes, who has deep experience with adapting long English novels, having created a serial version of William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair as well as Charles Dickens' unfinished The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She's also behind the Masterpiece special Dark Angel (available to stream by WTTW Passport members) and PBS miniseries Remember Me.

“Tom Jones is the mother of all rom-coms and isn’t that just what we all need after the last couple of years of misery?" Hughes says. "It’s a story where the sun barely stops shining, where love conquers all, and at its warm heart stand a pair of young sweethearts everyone can root for."

Tom Jones begins filming this autumn in and around Belfast. While it films, you'll have plenty of time to read (or re-read!) the original work and get excited for the coming adaptation!