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The Crème de La Crème of Period Dramas ? ? ?

(170 Posts)
FannyCornforth Wed 06-Apr-22 11:06:40

Hello
When I was working, I watched very little TV, indeed hardly any at all.

Now that DH and I am extremely time rich, we have been catching up on the last 20+ years of TV.

We are currently on the final season of ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’, and I cannot believe how much I love it. I am utterly besotted!

(My favourite character is Pearl Pratt; DH’s is Minnie)

I’m feeling very spoiled by Lark Rise; and I’m struggling to think what could possibly be as enjoyable.

So what to watch next?
Any ideas?
What are your favourites?
Doesn’t matter how old, I won’t have seen it. (Unless it’s Downton Abbey or The Crown)

Thank you! x

grandtanteJE65 Thu 07-Apr-22 13:40:44

All Creatures great and small (the original version)

Don't shoot me down in flames: it is a period piece to those who are younger than we are! And so is Floyd's War.

WonderBra Thu 07-Apr-22 13:40:21

Clearly I'm the only one who thinks a period drama is that awful moment when you're wearing white jeans, and realise you've started....

Lulubelle500 Thu 07-Apr-22 13:40:01

Sorry! Pressed Post before I'd had a chance to correct what my kindle prints!

pascal30 Thu 07-Apr-22 13:39:03

not a costume drama, but I loved watching Spooks when I retired, absolutely gripping..

Lulubelle500 Thu 07-Apr-22 13:38:32

Definitely Upstairs Downstairs. They're showing it every morning 9.10 onwards two episodes ITV3. I never watched it back in thevday, but think it knickers corRelation Abbey

PamQS Thu 07-Apr-22 13:38:13

ITV did The Forsyte Saga a few years ago (much shorter than the BBC version). The cast was excellent, with Damian Lewis and Gina McKee as Soames and Irene, and I really enjoyed it.

I found a couple of episodes of The Pallisers on YouTube, and I’d love to see the whole series.

EMMF1948 Thu 07-Apr-22 13:34:18

eazybee

The original Forsyte Saga, if it is still available.

Wives and Daughters (Mrs. Gaskell)

Obviously, Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion.

The Jewel in the Crown

An Age of Kings (Shakespeare, Richard 11 to Richard 111, from 1960, brilliant)

I would recommend that you read 'Lark Rise to Candleford', because the TV adaptation is a travesty. (Sorry).

I came here to say Jewel in the Crown, I suppose it will never get repeated for wokey-wokey reasons.
Eventually I grew to like North and South, the John Jakes books, not EG, the American Civil war. OH dragged us round so many battlefields and when the girls saw who was in it they too became interested. A lesson there for teaching History maybe?

Grandma70s Thu 07-Apr-22 13:32:09

grannybuy

Anne of Green Gables ( the one with Megan Followes/Fellowes.

Oh yes. What a wonderful Marilla in that version, Colleen Dewhurst.

hf59 Thu 07-Apr-22 13:25:58

Duchess of Duke Street

Iwtwab12bow Thu 07-Apr-22 13:24:11

Any of the Charles Dickens adaptations. They used to be on a Sunday. Such amazing actors. Bleak House was a particular favourite.

nadateturbe Thu 07-Apr-22 13:21:41

Thanks Littleannie.

grannybuy Thu 07-Apr-22 13:21:38

Anne of Green Gables ( the one with Megan Followes/Fellowes.

Tessyo Thu 07-Apr-22 13:17:37

BBC iPlayer - Wolf Hall - immerse yourself in Tudor England! Can’t praise it enough

FannyCornforth Thu 07-Apr-22 09:50:19

Victoria Hamilton also played the Queen Mother in The Crown

Grandma70s Thu 07-Apr-22 09:42:05

LOUISA1523

Grandma70s

I enjoyed Brideshead Revisited, and at the moment I’m watching Lark Rise to Candleford on DVD. So lovely to look at, if a bit idealistic about rural life, and some great characters. I love Claudie Blakley as Emma Timmins, and Matilda Ziegler as Ruby Pratt. I find Twister is irritating, though, and so is Miss Lane after a while. All the same, good comfort viewing.

Matilda Ziegler played Pearl Pratt not Ruby

Oh yes, sorry. Ruby was Victoria Hamilton. A very characterful face.

Anniebach Thu 07-Apr-22 09:42:04

The books , Larkrise and Candleford are heartbreaking, the
tv series is light

Littleannie Thu 07-Apr-22 09:40:14

Britbox is an app on your tablet and smart TV. Some smart TVs don't have it, but you can also get it as an add on channel on Prime Video. It's £5.99 a month , they used to do a month's free trial, but I don't know if this still applies. I love it.
Most of the really old programmes mentioned are free on YouTube though the quality isn't great.

FannyCornforth Thu 07-Apr-22 09:32:36

Esspee

I do wish we had a convention on Gransnet that when recommending a programme you were expected to state the channel. I would love to rewatch many series listed above.

That’s an excellent point Esspee

Thank you nadateturbesmile

nadateturbe Thu 07-Apr-22 09:27:44

Some great ideas here to watch or rewatch.
I loved the Thomas Hardy series
I'm just bought the book Lark Rise.
Must look for Britbox.

Thanks for starting the thread FannyC.

Newquay Thu 07-Apr-22 09:05:29

I agree about where to find them-especially for free!
Right, the hunt is on! ?

Esspee Thu 07-Apr-22 08:28:53

I do wish we had a convention on Gransnet that when recommending a programme you were expected to state the channel. I would love to rewatch many series listed above.

karmalady Thu 07-Apr-22 08:28:52

I have most of those on dvd, I just love the gentle pace of them, watching while knitting, no fast twists and turns. Cranford, when the boat comes in,catherine cookson, lots more mentioned above

FannyCornforth Thu 07-Apr-22 08:12:23

Anniebach

It’s my one weakness Fanny

Aah! ?

I disagree about Julia Sawalha.
I know that she’s annoying, but she’s supposed to be like that.
She’s a strange mix of passion and restraint.
Her little tics and the way she says ‘hmm’ (tilt head, raise eyebrow, crooked smile) is her trying to restrain herself and not quite succeeding.

In yesterday’s episode Queenie was teaching Ruby how to make lace.
It brought a tear to me eye.

Anniebach Thu 07-Apr-22 08:05:42

It’s my one weakness Fanny

FannyCornforth Thu 07-Apr-22 07:39:47

Ooh, it’s great Sparklefizz
You’ll love it