By Hanna Flint
Published: 14:13 EST, 3 July 2014 | Updated: 16:36 EST, 3 July 2014
She took no nonsense as princess Yara of the House of Greyjoy, but now Gemma Whelan has swapped Westeros for East Sussex to film a new BBC period comedy.
Mapp And Lucia is being adapted for television by the League Of Gentlemen's Steve Pemberton, and stars Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor as the rival upper-middleclass ladies Miss Elizabeth Mapp and Mrs Emmeline 'Lucia' Lucas.
Gemma joins the cast as Quaint Irene Coles, called by Miss Mapp 'the Disgrace of Tilling (and her sex)', and she was spotted on the Rye set of the new comedy based on E.F. Benson's comedy novels set in the summer of 1930.
She's a long way from Westeros: Game Of Thrones star Gemma Whelan on the BBC set of Mapp And Lucia
Her character is not dissimilar from her Game Of Thrones role, as Irene is known for outspokenness and is considered a free-speaking post-impressionist artist in the modern manner, Germanophil and socialist.
The series reunites Steve with his League of Gentleman co-creator Mark Gatiss, who will play Raj Army veteran Major Benjy.
'E. F. Benson's tales of life in Tilling are some of the most sly, funny and waspishly brilliant stories in the language,' Gatiss says. 'It's an absolute treat to be joining my old friend Steve and such a glorious cast to bring them to life. Quai hai!'
Miss Lucia: Anna Chancellor takes on one of the title roles in the miniseries based on E. F. Benson's comedy novels
Historic resonance: The production is located in Rye, East Sussex where the author lived
Pemberton stars as Lucia's devoted acolyte and dapper chief courtier, Georgie Pillson, and wrote this adaption of the novels which story follows the arrival of Mrs Emmeline Lucas in the charming historic town of Tilling, who is on a summer holiday.
The production takes place in Rye, East Sussex, where Benson lived between wars and has come to be Pemberton's his template for Mapp And Lucia's social battleground.
'It's a dream come true to be playing the delightful Georgie Pillson in Rye this summer, and I'm doubly excited to be joined by Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor,' Steve says.
What a gent: Steve Pemberton has written the TV adaption and takes on the role of Georgie Pillson
Reunited: Steve is joined by his League Of Gentleman co-creator Mark Gatiss in the cast
Aha! I'm Alan Partridge star Felicity Montagu is seen in character as Godiva 'Diva' Plaistow
'Both have proved themselves to be equally brilliant comic and dramatic actresses, and the thought of them going into battle as Mapp and Lucia is mouth-watering.
He added: 'The Channel 4 adaptation from the 1980s is what brought me to the books and I very much hope this new version will have a similar effect, turning a whole new readership on to EF Benson's bitingly funny novels.'
The cast also includes Felicity Montagu (Bridget Jones's Diary, Alan Partridge) as Godiva 'Diva' Plaistow; Paul Ritter (The Game, Quantum Of Solace) joins as Reverend Kenneth Bartlett (Padre) and Katy Brand (Nanny McPhee Returns, Mongrels) as Hermione Pillson.
The miniseries will include three 60 minute episodes and will air on BBC One.
Stellar cast: Miranda Richardson is also in the cast as Miss Mapps
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