Period Dramas

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!!

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

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.

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.