Tell me your favourite period drama

[biggirlknickers]

I have a rare day off with no kids coming up soon and I want to spend it on the sofa immersed in period dramas.

Which ones do you love?

Jennifer ehle version of pride and prejudice is excellent, not just Colin Firth (though that can be a bonus) but it's very faithful to the book and generally well cast

House of Eliot is also excellent

The original upstairs downstairs was also excellent, I didn't like the reboot myself

Downton abbey is great too.

I also enjoyed the Tudors, the white queen and the white princess which were well made and cast although very dubious re historical accuracy so view as fiction really.

Versailles was very good. Based loosely on history. Stunning costumes etc

Outlander
A place to call home

Lark Rise, P&P as mentioned.

Jane Eyre and Little Women too are also my favourites.

The Remains of the day

Love this thread. I too am a great lover of North and South (and would happily have Mr Thornton as a lover )

Upstairs Downstairs is fantastic too, this thread has reminded me to rewatch it so thank you.

I love Downton Abbey, mainly for the beautiful dresses. Have you watched Land Girls? It was first shown about 10 years ago but recently repeated so should be on i player.

@Odile13

I’ve just watched the 1995 Pride and Prejudice TV series with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. It’s excellent, can’t fault it!

Second this.

Also Daniel Deronda, Little Dorritt, Cranford.

Downton Abbey or the Crown.

North and South
Northhanger Abbey
Vanity fair
Shakespeare in love
Mask of Zorro
Lost in Austen
Emma
Importance of being Earnest

Zeferelli's Romeo & Juliet
Dangerous Liaisons
The Age of Innocence
BBC Jane Eyre (Ruth Wilson & Toby Stephens)
BBC P&P (Jennifer Ehle & Colin Firth)
BBC Little Dorrit (Matthew Macfayden, Claire Foy)

Favourite ever is Persuasion with Amanda Root as the heroine. Perfection.

Next best - less romantic but such good fun is Cranford. The cow in pyjamas! Judi Dench eating an orange. The terror and excitement at travelling 30 miles an hour on a train!

Totally agree about Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth P&P. It is also perfection.

Oh and the film Bright Star for the incredible costumes.

P and P with Ehle/Firth.
Persuasion with Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root.
North and South - Richard Armitage...nuff said.
Brideshead Revisited with Anthony Andrews/Jeremy Irons.
I Claudius - genius. But not cosy.

britishperioddramas.com/polls/poll-what-was-2020s-best-british-period-drama-tv-series-vote-here/

BBCs adaption of Emma with Romola Garai.

Upstairs Downstairs by far. The Grand was quite good but not nearly as good as UD.

Brideshead and The Jewel in the Crown

Colin firth version of pride and prejudice. And Kate Beckinsale Emma.

Oh and forgot Cranford. Enjoyed Downton, but it's not very realistic of the times.

@dolphinpose remember to be careful that you don't fray your optic nerve.

P&P with Jennifer Ehrle - cannot be surpassed. For various reasons this actually falls into my annual Christmas viewing and I love it more each time I watch it.

Persuasion with Amanda Root. A more perfect interpretation cannot be found.

Jane Eyre with Charlotte Gainsburg - the only version of it that helped me understand why the hell she stayed.

Sense & Sensibility with Emma Thompson.

I love a good detective show so I recommend Miss Marple with Joan Hickson, Poirot with David Suchet, Maigret with either Michael Gambon or Rowan Atkinson, Miss Fryne Fisher Mysteries, or early seasons of Murdoch Mysteries. I also like Foyle's War but haven't actually watched them all yet.

So many great series here. Also enjoyed Hornblower. Not my usual thing to watch but it was very good. Foyles war too.