It aired on BBC1 from 26 November to 17 December 1989, and starred Samantha Bond, Daisuke Ryu, and Adrian Rawlins.

After her marriage, she finds her husband is indifferent to her and her needs and she falls in love with a married Japanese nobleman.

After Scots actress Hannah Gordon had read the play on Scottish radio, she attempted to have the book adapted by the BBC.

The New York Times wrote of the series "Despite several fine performances, The Ginger Tree turns out to be unabsorbing.

[2] Howard Rosenberg, writing for the Los Angeles Times, agreed and wrote the series "is a slow-evolving come-on with a disappointing payoff."