Thomas Hardy's classic novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles is adapted for television by David Nicholls (Starter For Ten, Cold Feet, Much Ado About Nothing) and marks the first time BBC has undertaken an adaptation for this classic tale. Tess is a romantic heroine, but her story is also punctuated by cruelty, violence, and social injustices. Her family is poor and prevails upon her to claim connections with a wealthy D'Urberville family in an effort to secure financial assistance. After being taken advantage of while staying with the supposedly noble family, Tess returns home - unsuccessful, ashamed, and pregnant. Later, when she unexpectedly falls in love with someone new and marries, her confession of what happened to her in the past proves to have tragic consequences.
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