James Nesbitt (Jekyll, Cold Feet, token Man Utd fan when you need one) and Maxine Peake (Shameless, Messiah), are all good and set to star in Cinderella, the second of four comedy dramas to be made for the BBC as part of the modern anthology of Fairy Tales for BBC1. Cinderella is set inside a bustling University and asks the question; who was really responsible for the evolution of the human race – man or woman?

Apparently, it’s going to be a ‘delightful rom-com’ who features Nesbitt as the devilishly charismatic Professor Prince (you see what they did there?) who believes that man was the reason that we are all here today. On the flip, cleaner Cindy (Maxine Peake), who despite her lack of academic education, is determined to prove him wrong.

When the opportunity arises to become Professor Prince’s assistant on a research trip to Borneo, students Phoebe (Lucinda Raikes, The Thick Of It) and Fenola (Lucy Punch, St Trinian’s) are determined to impress both Professor Prince and Professor Brooks (Harriet Walter, Bright Young Things). However, Cindy’s desperate to be considered and looks to fellow cleaner Alice (Mona Hammond, EastEnders) for inspiration.

As previously reported on these fine pages, other Fairy Tales featured in the anthology include Rapunzel, The Emperor’s New Clothes and Billy Goat, the last of which filmed last month in Northern Ireland and stars Bernard Hill, Paul Nicholls, Mathew Horne and Sarah Smart.

All four Fairy Tales have been commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland and made by Hat Trick Productions in association with the Northern Ireland Screen and will transmit later this year on BBC One. [Mof Gimmers]