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Period Dramas

(64 Posts)
TheSunRisesInTheEast Sun 03-May-26 23:18:12

Thanks so much for all the recommendations, I will watch them all in time. At the moment I'm on the fifth episode of series 1 of Cranford, there are several familiar faces from the other period dramas which is slightly confusing, but I'm enjoying it so far.

Luckygirl3 Sun 03-May-26 09:28:38

I agree with Aveline about Bridgerton. I gave up after the sex on the stairs. Something for the servants to talk about and perfectly ridiculous.

Chestnut Sun 03-May-26 09:25:18

There are loads of period dramas tucked away in the various channels, far too many to name!

I went back to the very start of Upstairs Downstairs and it's still wonderful though takes a while to get going during the first few episodes. It starts with Pauline Collins arriving as a new housemaid.

Bramwell is wonderful, also the many Catherine Cookson dramas, which have always been on U&Drama or you may have to search.

Aveline Sun 03-May-26 08:08:01

The Gilded Age is a real treat. I hope the next series is coming soon. I couldn't bear Bridgerton and gave up on it immediately. Completely unauthentic soft porn.

LadyGaGa Sun 03-May-26 07:46:52

I too enjoyed the Gilded Age. I also watched all of Upstairs Downstairs on ITV 2. I really missed it when it finished! What about Bridgerton? It’s a bit different as it’s ’colour blind’ (their description) There are all different races in it and Queen Charlotte is black. It’s a bit surreal at times (as the chamber orchestra plays modem tunes!)but the story is gripping and it’s beautiful to look at. On Netflix.

Luckygirl3 Sun 03-May-26 06:48:07

The Gilded Age. Written by Julian Fellows who wrote Downton. It is a sort of American Downton. Similar era and it is very compelling with fabulous costumes.
On Now or Amazon Prime I think.
I really enjoyed it a while back.

grandMattie Sun 03-May-26 06:39:39

Duchess of Duke street is another good one, on U I believe.

Aveline Sun 03-May-26 06:37:53

Must check out the updated Upstairs Downstairs. Sounds like ideal Sunday afternoon viewing.

Jane43 Sun 03-May-26 05:59:27

I think you would like Sanditon, an adaptation of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, it is on ITV X.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Sun 03-May-26 01:47:08

Thank you for your suggestions.

I'll watch Cranford, hopefully I can find it somewhere. An updated version of Upstairs Downstairs sounds interesting, I remember being able to watch that in the 70s, in my nightie, ready for bed! Then I'll give Dickensian a look. There's very little modern TV that interests me. I think I was born in the wrong era!!

keepingquiet Sat 02-May-26 20:37:17

Cranford was excellent- but I also loved Dickensian and wish they would do another series!

Doodledog Sat 02-May-26 20:21:11

I enjoyed the updated Upstairs Downstairs, which I think is showing on U.

It is set in the 1930s, with Rose (the maid) who has retired from service and running a bureau for staff. She is asked to find servants for the house at Eton Place, which has passed to a new generation. There are two series, but I wish they'd made more. It stars Keeley Hawkes and is a lot more 'modern' in production etc than the old series with Gordon Jackson.

sassenach512 Sat 02-May-26 20:19:47

I loved Larkrise to Candleford, such easy watching, no swearing, no murders just gentle stories and great acting.
Have you tried Cranford? some great names in that too.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Sat 02-May-26 20:06:18

I was very late to Downton Abbey, a friend recently suggested I binge watch it and that's what I did, I absolutely loved it.

Someone on here then recommended The Other Bennet Sister followed by Larkrise to Candleford and I thoroughly enjoyed both of them. It's good binge watching them because sometimes I forget who people are and the relationships to one another!

Can anyone recommend another period drama that I could watch, please?