VANESSA REDGRAVE - REDGRAVE AND IZZARD SET FOR DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS REMAKE

REDGRAVE AND IZZARD SET FOR DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS REMAKE

Vanessa Redgrave and Eddie Izzard are among a glittering cast signed up for a BBC remake of The Day of the Triffids.

The dystopian tale, penned by John Wyndham in 1951, tells of the titular Triffids, a vicious plant crop who breed rapidly and set about destroying mankind.

The science-fiction classic was last adapted for the small screen in 1981, but a new version will begin shooting in April; before being screened on BBC1 later this year.

Redgrave, her daughter Joely Richardson, Brian Cox and former Beverly Hills 90210 star Jason Priestley are all attached to the project while Scottish actor Dougray Scott will play the heroic Dr Bill Masen.

"We are enormously excited to have secured this stellar cast for The Day Of The Triffids," said executive producer Justin Bodle.

"Together with its amazing effects and iconic locations, it will deliver the drama mini-series event of 2009."

Former ER screenwriter Patrick Harbinson has adapted Wyndham's chilling tale for a joint production between Power studios, Prodigy Pictures and the BBC.