From beyond the grave, Terry Pratchett orders Neil Gaiman to adapt Good Omens for TV

After several false starts, including one that involved Terry Gilliam and a groat, Neil Gaiman has announced that he will personally adapt he and Terry Pratchett's oustanding, comedic apocalypse novel Good Omens as a six-part TV series.

Gaiman made the announcement at a memorial event for Pratchett held last night in London, revealing that Pratchett had left him a note urging him to do it.

"Absolutely not," Gaiman recalled replying, to laughter. "Terry and I had a deal that we would only work on Good Omens things together," he explained. "Everything that was ever written – bookmarks and tiny little things – we would always collaborate, everything was a collaboration. So, obviously, no."

But Wilkins revealed to the audience that Pratchett had left a letter posthumously for Gaiman. In the letter, Pratchett requested that the author write an adaptation by himself, with his blessing. "At that point, I think I said, 'You bastard, yes,'" Gaiman recalled, to cheers.

"How much are we allowed to tell them?" Gaiman teased, before he was hushed by Wilkins. "Are we allowed to tell them it is a six-part television series?"

Good Omens: Neil Gaiman to adapt Terry Pratchett collaboration for TV
[Sian Cain/The Guardian]

(via Diane Duane)

(Image: Neil Gaiman in Terry Pratchett's hat)