Channel 4 signs up McKellen's Lear
Sir Ian McKellen's King Lear is coming to Channel 4.Channel 4 have bought the rights to show something that is really special.
Last year, Ian McKellen performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Trevor Nunn's King Lear, which was filmed for TV. It won rave reviews, and on the British Theatre website, Peter Latham enthused: "McKellen's Lear is, as he should be, a towering, dominant figure, especially in the depths of his despair and the madness it brings."
Of course, McKellen's last small screen appearance was in 2005, when he fulfilled the ambition of a lifetime and landed a role in Coronation Street.
He delighted audiences by playing scheming writer Mel Hutchwright, a couple of years after conquering the world with his portrayal of Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy
Although we will have to be patient before McKellen's back on the box, by the sound of things it's going to be worth the wait.