The Rapture on BBC One: Writer reveals major changes from the Liz Jensen book and why it needed to happen
The "high-stakes thriller" is adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name
The Rapture is a “high-stakes thriller” based on the bestselling novel of the same name, but fans of the book will notice that the TV adaptation has some big changes.
The five-parter which “crackles with danger” is now airing on BBC One. It follows forensic psychologist Gabs Fox who starts a new job at a high-security psychiatric hospital. There she meets 17-year-old Bethany, who was convicted of murdering her own mother, but claims she is innocent.
Set during a summer of merciless heat, we meet Dr Gabs Fox at a pivotal moment in her life. She is trying to rebuild her career after recovering from a car crash that left her paralysed and killed her husband.
Having arrived at the psychiatric hospital, she is assigned to 17-year-old convicted murderer Bethany Krall. Bethany tells Gabs that she has psychic powers and can predict the future (hence the psych ward and not prison)…
Is The Rapture on BBC One based on a book?
The upcoming BBC One adaptation of The Rapture is based on Liz Jensen’s bestselling 2009 novel of the same name. The synopsis of the book tells us: “In a merciless summer of biblical heat and destructive winds, Gabrielle Fox’s main concern is to rebuild her career as a psychologist after a shattering car accident.
“But, when she is assigned a patient who is the most dangerous teenager in the country, she begins to fear she has made a terrible mistake…”
The Times described the novel as: “An end-of-days blockbuster to haunt your nightmares… Unputdownable.”
Fans called the book “apocalyptic”, “compelling”, and “excellent”.
The Rapture writer reveals huge changes from the book
Writer Bryony Kimmings has adapted the popular novel into the TV series. But fans of the book will notice a big change to the plot.
In the 352-page novel, teenager Bethany insists she can predict natural disasters. The “haunting thriller” explores the extremes of mankind’s self-destruction in a world on the brink of collapse.
The Rapture is psychological eco-thriller in which the character of Bethany Krall predicts a series of escalating global and environmental catastrophes. These culminate in an “ultimate apocalypse” that she calls “the end” or “the Rapture”.
Her specific visions and prophecies include the collapsing Christ the Redeemer statue, foretelling a hurricane that destroys Rio de Janeiro. She also foresees a devastating earthquake that shatters Istanbul, leaving the city completely ruined. Other visions include mega-tsunamis, melting ice, and terrifying ecological breakdowns.
However, Bethany’s visions were changed for the TV adaptation.
Changes between The Rapture book and TV drama
Talking about The Rapture adaptation, Bryony Kimmings – known for writing the screenplay to the film Last Christmas – revealed how and why the script differs from the book.
Explaining the changes between the book The Rapture and the drama, she said: “The book leads towards a large disaster, whilst our show isn’t doing that. I decided to make the disaster more of an emotional and internal one. We moved from solving a tidal wave to investigating a potential miscarriage of justice. Again, simply because we know 17 years later after the book came out what the cost to the systems of the earth are if we continue with our growth and our extraction.”
Revealing how she thinks the topic now resonates with a modern audience, Bryony added: “I think it couldn’t be more pressing to find new ways to talk about the climate crisis, the oil crisis, the ecological crisis in ways that aren’t our old ways. This is an example of how to do it differently; with humour and love and some politics strapped in, but not rammed down your throat or trying to make you angry.
“The modern audience need some kindness and solutions… Not dystopias and loads of information about how it’s too late. Because it isn’t. I think it has some mirrors to modern life and the questions we all need to be asking ourselves. Hopefully it will feel fresh and new.”
‘The idea of two unlikely reluctant heroes’
Explaining why she took on the project, Bryony told us: “The book really spoke to me. The idea of two unlikely reluctant heroes. Two people with a lot of their own problems really not wanting to be called into action. That felt interesting, the fact they were women with huge mental loads that ALSO needed to help with the planet, that felt real and true to my own story. That is fresh. The hard not heroic fodder that’s reality. That’s honest.”
Recalling how she felt when she first read the book, Bryony said: “I felt very excited by the way the women spoke to one another. Like real people. Like I do my mates. Taking the piss, being rude, criticising, sometimes manipulating but also loving and supporting. The characters felt full and real. I loved Liz Jensen’s concept too. It felt fresh and new. And we need new stories around the climate. Lots of them and quick. Ones that are relatable, not dystopian hellscapes. This presented that.”
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