Tennant set for Radio 4 role

Doctor Who star David Tennant will star in a BBC radio show...

12:05 09 September 2009

Doctor Who star David Tennant is set to star in a radio dramatisation of John Steinbeck's classic novel 'Of Mice and Men'.

The acclaimed story of two migrant workers in 1930s California will be produced by BBC Radio Scotland, and will air on Radio 4's Classic Serial slot early next year.

Tennant will appear with Liam Brennan in the adaptation.

Steinbeck's novella has been adapted for radio by writer Donna Franceschild, who has previously worked with the Scottish actor on the drama 'Takin' Over the Asylum' shown on BBC Two.

The first film adaptation of Steinbeck's novel was in 1939 with Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr. George Segal and Nicol Williamson appeared in a 1968 version, while a successful 1992 adaptation starred Gary Sinise and John Malkovich with Sinise directing as well as starring.

Tennant will retire from his iconic role as the Doctor after three specials that will air leading up to Christmas.

The actor has received plenty of critical praise for his work on the British stage when not starring in Doctor Who.

His role of Hamlet in the Shakespeare classic cemented his standing as an actor. He is set to reprise that role for a BBC Two film of his recent Royal Shakespeare Company production.