The Crème de La Crème of Period Dramas ? ? ?

Middlemarch with (sigh) Rufus Sewell…Bleak House was wonderful because I didn’t know the story and it was cleverly done in half hour chunks. The Ann Marie Duff series of ElizabethI with (another sigh) Tom Hardy as Robbie. Again wonderful music by the Mediaevil Babes (better that the Helen Mirren one imo).

In my student days, I had to read the idealised version of growing up in Lark Rise to Candleford in tandem with the gritty realism of a book called Kes. It was a compare and contrast type of exercise.

Jane43

As susie42 mentioned, Our Friends In The North was an excellent series, not period as such but the cast was excellent- Daniel Craig, Gina McKee, Christopher Eccleston and Mark Strong who all went on to great things. We enjoyed The Onedin Line as well. There were some wonderful Thomas Hardy series which always seemed to star Alan Bates - The Mayor Of Casterbridge and Jude The Obscure come to mind but my favourite Hardy was Tess Of The Durbervilles, I don’t think Alan Bates was in that.

I loved the Gemma Arterton Tess. I cry just thinking about the last episode and the music is wonderful.

FannyCornforth

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

Have you read the book? It’s one of my favourites. When my mum died I became obsessed with reading autobiographical books about how life was like ‘in the old days’ because I hadn’t asked mum about her childhood.

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.

Brideshead Revisited ((1981)
The Go-Between (1971)

for me.

Lucca

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 loved cranford but couldn’t bear lark rise. Terrible acting by ?sawalha … head to one side quizzical was her only expression. Found it all too twee for words but then I’m the lone voice who can’t take Callnthe midwife so….

I don't think the real postmistress was like that at all!

She was the wife of one my Grandad's cousins.

The original Forsyte Saga is intriguing to watch now, the characters indulge in long conversations with each and things move slowly with so many episodes, how did we all sit for so long. So many of the actors in these dramas are long gone but it can be like meeting old friends.
All the others mentioned are worth a look, loved Barchester Chronicles.

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

Clayhanger, Edward & Mrs Simpson, To Serve Them All My Days, Sam, A Family At War., The Onedin Line. To name a few I can remember enjoying, I don't know where you would find them though

Ruby Bentall who played Minnie is the daughter of Janine Duvitski.
I was delighted to find this out.
Janine is such a fine comic actor

Nothing compares with Larkrise for me, adore Minnie

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 loved cranford but couldn’t bear lark rise. Terrible acting by ?sawalha … head to one side quizzical was her only expression. Found it all too twee for words but then I’m the lone voice who can’t take Callnthe midwife so….

There’s a more recent version of War and Peace too which was very good. James Norton and Paul Dano were in it as well as a lot of other stars including Ade Edmondson.

You might enjoy one of the War and Peace series too - my favourite is the 2007 version with the gorgeous Alessio Boni and Clemence Posey (from The Bridge), also Malcolm McDowell and Brenda Blethyn.

I really enjoyed North and South too, and Cranford (although not so much the second series). Also Persuasion (1995) with Ciaran Hinds and Pride and Prejudice (1995) with Colin Firth. I wasn't over excited by Vanity Fair, but lots of people liked it.

I liked North & South as well suedonim Cranford was excellent as was South Riding. I also enjoyed The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Also, the 1970’s War and Peace with Anthony Hopkins. We started rewatching it. The wobbly plywood sets are rather marvellous!

Has anyone suggested North and South with the delicious Richard Armitage?

As susie42 mentioned, Our Friends In The North was an excellent series, not period as such but the cast was excellent- Daniel Craig, Gina McKee, Christopher Eccleston and Mark Strong who all went on to great things. We enjoyed The Onedin Line as well. There were some wonderful Thomas Hardy series which always seemed to star Alan Bates - The Mayor Of Casterbridge and Jude The Obscure come to mind but my favourite Hardy was Tess Of The Durbervilles, I don’t think Alan Bates was in that.

I think I remember you saying you have Britbox Fanny. Don't forget The Forsyte Saga with Damien Lewis.
I love Britbox, I wallow in it most nights. For those who can't get the Britbox app on their smart TV, it is available as an add on channel on Prime at the same price as the stand alone version.

my mum really liked Victoria

Back in time I know but "The Glittering Prizes" and " Brideshead " have to be on the list.

The Jewel in the Crown, Brideshead Revisited, and Our Friends in the North. There are also older versions of Our Mutual Friend and Bleak House if you can find them.

How could I forget!

I, Claudius

Henry V111 and Elizabeth R, both on recently.