Fans of Alexander McCall Smith’s bestseller The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency are either rejoicing or wailing “ it’s being made into a television series.

The good news is that it’s being co-produced by the BBC and HBO, two bastions of quality TV. The 90-minute pilot was directed by Anthony Minghella (The English Patient), and he also co-wrote it with Richard Curtis (Funny English Romantic Comedy ft. Hugh Grant, volumes I-XII). Actress and singer Jill Scott will play the lead character, Precious Ramotswe, and Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) will play her secretary.

The pilot will air on BBC One this Easter, with 13 episodes to follow. HBO has the North American rights, and plans to put it to air in early 2009.