Romola Garai stars as the well-read prostitute, Sugar, in The Crimson Petal and the White, set in Victorian London.
The four-part drama, which starts on BBC2 on March 23, is adapted from the book by Michel Faber. It charts Sugar’s complicated relationship with a prominent businessman, William Rackham, played by Chris O’Dowd.
Others in the cast include Gillian Anderson, Richard E. Grant and Mark Gatiss. It was directed by Marc Munden, whose previous dramas include The Devil’s Whore.
The channel’s drama budget has been tripled at a time when the corporation faces 20 per cent cuts.