Dame Judi Dench and Benedict Cumberbatch have added some real thespian star power to a new British BBC Tv Shakespeare initiative by teaming up for a televised production of The Bard's Richard III.

Oscar winner Dench has signed on to play Cecily, Duchess of York opposite the Sherlock star in the drama, which is part of a new series of adapted Shakespeare classics, which will debut next month (Sep14).

As part of the three-film project, titled The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses, Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville will take on Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester in a two-part adaptation of Henry Vi and Hotel Rwanda star Sophie Okonedo will portray Queen Margaret in all three Tv movies. Tom Sturridge has been cast as Henry Vi.

The venture follows the success of the first The Hollow Crown series, which featured Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston and Ben Whishaw in adaptations of Shakespeare's Richard Ii and Henry Iv.