The new version’s writer, Jonathan Holloway, has said that this reworking will “capture the shock” that the original version of the novel received.

Holloway told the Radio Times, rightly, that his aim was to dissolve the illusion that the novel is “[…] the cosy greatest love story ever told.”

Wuthering Heights is a story of passionate obsession and tortuous relationships, often played down by previous adaptations uncomfortable with portraying the narrative faithfully. Sir Cliff Richard’s musical, ‘Heathcliff’ was certainly guilty of this.

Mr. Holloway will have to defend himself against legions of Brontë fans who will not be happy with Cathy and Heathcliff using language that they did not use in the novel, but the radio version may actually be a more accurate adaptation of what Emily Brontë originally wrote.

The earliest drafts show words crossed out because they were thought to be too coarse.

The adaptation is 90 minutes long and will be broadcast on Sunday 27th March at 8.00 pm on Radio 3.