Howards End

SoHo, 8:30pm Thursday

It’s tempting to say we don’t need any more classic novel adaptations — in just the past couple of months we’ve had a stylish Picnic at Hanging Rock and yet another Little Women. But it’s hard to say no to something as richly satisfying as the new Howards End miniseries that starts on SoHo this week.

A co-production between the BBC and US cable network Starz (bit of an odd couple, but it works), this four-episode adaptation of E.M. Forster’s 1910 novel is reassuringly faithful to the original source material, while also vibrant and fast-paced enough to win over any newcomers keen for some turn-ofthe-century romantic family drama.

The script has been adapted by American screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan, whose last writing credit was the bleak, Academy Award-winning Manchester by the Sea. His Howards End, while not without its wistful moments, is more upbeat — in fact, the pace and wit of the dialogue sometimes makes it feel as if you’re watching a kind of olden days version of Gilmore Girls.

Hayley Atwell and Philippa Coulthard are the strong-willed Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, and look so much as if they could be real sisters that it takes most of the first episode before you’re able to tell them apart. Matthew Macfadyen makes a very reliable Mr Wilcox, but it’s

Tracey Ullman, as the girls’ protective Aunt Juley, who stands out in part one.

They all have plenty to work with — this is one of those adaptations that makes you want to immediately go and read the book if you haven’t already. If you have, just luxuriate in those posh 1900s London interiors, imagine yourself living at Howards End — first thing I’d do is probably give it an apostrophe.