BBC Four to make Lawrence's Women in Love

Ken Russell's 1969 film picked up four Oscar nominations

DH Lawrence's classic novel Women In Love is to be adapted by BBC Four as part of a season about love and sexuality in 20th century literature.

The book, which was adapted for the big screen in 1969 and starred Glenda Jackson and Oliver Reed, will be combined with Lawrence's The Rainbow.

John Braine's 1957 novel Room At The Top will also be produced.

BBC Four controller Richard Klein said he hoped actors of a high calibre would be secured to star in the dramas.

He said that he was keen to open up the channel to modern interpretations of literary classics including Women In Love.

Naked wrestling

Mr Klein added that they were an "exciting new direction" for the channel which he "hopes viewers will love as much as our biopics of Enid, Gracie and Margot".

BBC Four's recent drama about the life of singer Gracie Fields, starring Jane Horrocks, matched its highest audience of 1.4 million viewers.

"The 20th Century has seen an enormous change in the way that men and women behave towards each other and how they conduct relationships. This season aims to explore and contextualise those changes," added Mr Klein.

Women In Love was originally published in 1920 and was a sequel to The Rainbow, although Lawrence had intended to combine them in one novel called The Sisters.

The lives of the Brangwen sisters and their respective lovers were brought to the big screen by director Ken Russell.

The film contains a naked wrestling scene between actors Oliver Reed and Alan Bates, while Glenda Jackson won a best actress Oscar for her role.