Sir Michael Gambon is reuniting with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling to bring her first adult fiction book, The Casual Vacancy, to life on the small screen.

The British acting icon, who replaced the late Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore in the boy wizard film franchise, will lead the cast in a Bbc Tv adaptation of the bestselling novel, about an unexpected death in a quaint English village.

He will portray deli owner Howard Mollison, opposite Notes on a Scandal actress Julia MCKenzie.

The miniseries will also feature Keeley Hawes, Rufus Jones, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan and newcomer Abigail Lawrie.

Production on the three-hour series is due to begin on 7 July (14) in south west England.

Rowling released The Casual Vacancy in 2012. It has sold more than six million copies worldwide.