JK Rowling's first novel since completing Harry Potter, The Casual Vacancy, is pretty much the definition of literary marmite. Some love it, some absolutely hate it. One thing's for sure - almost everybody read it. 

With HBO / BBC joining forces to turn the novel into a miniseries, castings have just been announced and sure enough, there's a few Harry Potter alumnists in there.

Leading the cast is Michael Gambon - better known to Potter fans / everyone as Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. Gambon is due to play the character of Howard Mollison from the book while Upstairs Downstairs' Keeley Hawes will play his wife, Shirley.

Skyfall's Rory Kinnear - who is currently in Penny Dreadful, filmed here in dear old Dublin - will also be in the cast alongside Julie McKenzie and Rufus Jones.

Filming is due to commence on July 7th and the novel will be turned into a three-episode miniseries, although there's no word yet on when it will be aired.