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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

Mine Thu 07-Apr-22 18:41:01

Watching the first series of Gentleman Jack....Its fab....
My favourite of all time was
WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN
Loved Robson Green in it..

DaisyAnne Thu 07-Apr-22 19:03:12

Not sure where you would find them but North and South is a favourite and also Cranford.

Lyng17 Thu 07-Apr-22 19:23:14

Poldark and the Duchess of Duke street.

Bignanny2 Thu 07-Apr-22 19:53:32

If you’re on britbox are you watching the new series of sanditon . If you have seen the first it’s on catch up tv tooo.

albertina Thu 07-Apr-22 20:35:02

I loved the BBC drama Dickensian. It mixed together lots of Dickens stories and blended them into a series. I found it fascinating but unfortunately the BBC took it off after Series one.

The later version of the Forsyte Saga was very enjoyable too. It's the one where Damian Lewis was at his most wicked, and Gina McKee had to suffer being married to him.

Harris27 Thu 07-Apr-22 21:00:33

Loved lark rise! It made me so happy watching it many years ago.

AreWeThereYet Thu 07-Apr-22 21:41:48

For those interested in 'Sam' there are episodes available on YouTube (link to episode 1 below), don't know if every episode is there.

I'd never heard of it but apparently it was once the most popular series on TV. Written by John Finch, who wrote Family at War.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K2FCwLCPnk

LOUISA1523 Thu 07-Apr-22 21:56:26

FannyCornforth

Victoria Hamilton also played the Queen Mother in The Crown

She did...and she also aged Katie in goodbye Mr chips with Martin Clunes....this is a nice thread to come back to this evening...a proper trip down memory lane ?

LOUISA1523 Thu 07-Apr-22 21:57:02

Played Kathie .... that should read ?

tictacnana Thu 07-Apr-22 22:20:48

Family at War was on Talking Pictures a while back. I hadn’t seen it since the 70s and it was still enthralling. Barbara Flynn was practically a child at the time and is probably the lone survivor from the cast.

FannyCornforth Fri 08-Apr-22 06:26:56

Albertina (I love your name)
I’d forgotten about Dickensian!
That is absolutely brilliant, so clever.
I’ve got the DVD and have watched it a couple of times.
It’s fab to watch at Christmas

Chestnut Fri 08-Apr-22 09:28:29

I'd forgotten one of my favourites....*Bramwell*. Set in the early 1900s about a lady doctor fighting the establishment and helping the poor. Absolutely wonderful.

MayBee70 Fri 08-Apr-22 09:44:48

I don’t know why they didn’t do another series of Dickensian. I didn’t warm to it at first being a bit of a Dickens traditionalist but then it grew on me.

PinkCosmos Fri 08-Apr-22 10:03:30

What about The Mallens - I think it is available on Amazon Prime.

Also, lots of the Catherine Cookson books made into series are on the Drama channel.

I know it isn't an old series but Outlander is supposed to be really good.

PinkCosmos Fri 08-Apr-22 10:07:39

uktvplay.uktv.co.uk/channel/drama/

Shows what is currently showing on Drama

SuzieHi Fri 08-Apr-22 10:14:12

Would be helpful to know which channels these are all on!
I’m another who worked all hours- didn’t have time for tv until retirement.
Now enjoying a lot

Anniebach Fri 08-Apr-22 10:16:29

How can I find Drama please ?

Babs758 Fri 08-Apr-22 10:29:23

Not quite period but i rewatched “The Lotus Eaters” with Ian Hendrix and Wanda Ventham (mother of Benedict Cumberbatch)… wobbly BBC sets and Rada acting but I loved it. Set in Greece and quite a good story.

Babs758 Fri 08-Apr-22 10:29:54

Apologies For spellcheck!

OakDryad Fri 08-Apr-22 10:35:51

Anniebach

How can I find Drama please ?

Annie, I watch it via the UKTVPlay app on Freeview Play which includes Drama, Dave (comedy), Yesterday and a few other channels.

Anniebach Fri 08-Apr-22 10:45:13

Thank you OakDryad

HannahLoisLuke Fri 08-Apr-22 10:45:28

AreWeThereYet

A taster of the more recent War and Peace with James Norton. Here he is waltzing with the lovely Lily James (Natasha)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSsQmNRecQ

Oh thank you for that Arewethereyet, I love that scene. Loved the series too and, years ago managed to finish the book ( minus a few battle plans)

HannahLoisLuke Fri 08-Apr-22 10:48:25

MayBee70

Love for Lydia with Mel Martin ( I think).

Oh yes, I’d forgotten. I loved it too and then bought the book. Might read it again. Thanks for the reminder.

Chestnut Fri 08-Apr-22 10:56:36

PinkCosmos

uktvplay.uktv.co.uk/channel/drama/

Shows what is currently showing on Drama

Oh my goodness, they have A Place to Call Home which puts everything else in the shade! It is absolutely wonderful with the most amazing storylines, costumes, scenery, sets. I believe this is the best thing I have ever watched.

OakDryad Fri 08-Apr-22 10:58:53

I can recommend 37 Days which has just been added to BritBox about the 37 days of political wrangling which took place between the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and all out war.

Stars Ian McDiarmid as Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey and Tim Piggott-Smith as PM Asquith. I wasn't sure at first. It felt a bit like a history lesson for year eight but twenty minutes in and I was hooked.

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/mar/07/37-days-tv-review