Vanessa Redgrave has joined the cast of a BBC adaptation of The Go-Between - more than 40 years after her father appeared in an earlier dramatisation.

The veteran actress, 77, will play the central character Marian in her older age for the BBC One period drama to be screened next year, based on the literary classic by LP Hartley.

Her late father Michael had a key role as Leo - in his later years - in the 1971 version.

The new production has also added Jim Broadbent to the cast, who had a minor uncredited role in the original version. He takes on the part played by Michael Redgrave.

Broadbent said: "Having been an extra in the first adaptation of The Go-Between in 1971, I was thrilled to be asked to be in this new version. It is a tremendous novel and Adrian Hodges' script captures it perfectly."

Screenplay writer Hodges said: "First and foremost it's exciting that we've attracted two such brilliant actors to the parts of the older Leo and Marian, but in Vanessa Redgrave and Jim Broadbent it's also thrilling there is such a strong connection with Joseph Losey's well-loved film version from the 1970s.

"Our version of The Go-Between is a very different film for a new generation of viewers, but Vanessa's appearance will bring back happy memories of the gravity of her father Michael's performance and it is both lovely and moving to find Jim made his very first appearance in the movie. I couldn't be more flattered that these great actors are taking on roles that clearly mean a great deal to them."

Joanna Vanderham, who has appeared in The Paradise, will play the younger Marian while Jack Hollington stars as the more youthful Leo.

The story sees the elderly Leo Colston looking back at his life after finding a diary written as a teenager.

It will be screened as part of a BBC One season based on 20th century literary classic books and plays, which also includes new adaptations of Lady Chatterley's Lover, Cider With Rosie and An Inspector Calls.