Andrew Buchan and Alun Armstrong in Garrow's Law, returning this autumn
Despite all the cutbacks to TV drama, there are some exciting period dramas still coming up – so I thought I’d do a little round-up of what is in store this autumn and winter. Goodies coming up in the UK include ITV’s major drama Downton Abbey, which is scripted by Julian Fellowes of Gosford Park fame and set in a great country house in 1912 – the amazing cast is headed by Dame Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville. This series already has an unofficial fansite.
Also coming up on ITV1 is what I believe is the last drama written by great scriptwriter Alan Plater before his recent death, Joe Maddison’s War, a two-hour film which stars Kevin Whately as a shipyard worker in the Second World War. Sir Derek Jacobi and Melanie Hill are also in this one and it was reportedly filmed on location in Newcastle earlier this year, so hopefully will turn up during the new season.
Also due to be shown this autumn is the second series of the BBC’s 18th-century legal drama Garrow’s Law , currently filming in Scotland – I’m a fan of this series, starring Andrew Buchan, Alun Armstrong and Lyndsey Marshal, so it is another one I’m really looking forward to.
The BBC is also currently filming an adaptation of Michel Faber’s bestselling novel The Crimson Petal and the White, set in 1870s London and focusing on a secret relationship between a businessman and a young prostitute – this is being filmed in Liverpool and it has been reported that the cast is headed by Richard E Grant and Gillian Anderson. It’s directed by Marc Munden who made Channel 4′s Civil War series The Devil’s Whore.
BBC2 has a one-off drama coming up this autumn called Christopher and His Kind, adapted from writer Christopher Isherwood’s memoir of the same name and looking at his life in Berlin in the early 1930s which inspired Cabaret - filming on this was done in May and June in Belfast. Matt Smith, the current star of Doctor Who, plays Isherwood, with Toby Jones and Lindsay Duncan also starring.
Lindsay Duncan is also among the cast for two-part BBC2 drama The Sinking of the Laconia, a wartime drama scripted by Alan Bleasdale about an armed British vessel sunk by a German U-boat – Andrew Buchan stars in this too, as well as Brian Cox. There are also dramas coming up on BBC2 about the making of Coronation Street (really strange that this one isn’t on ITV, which has been showing the series for 50 years!) and the early years of TV comedy legends Morecambe and Wise, with Victoria Wood cast as Morecambe’s mum.
I’m not sure whether you’d call this next one a costume drama or sci-fi – a cross between the two, I suppose! Mark Gatiss has adapted HG Wells’ classic The First Men in the Moon for BBC Four, and also stars as Edwardian scientist Professor Cavor. BBC Four also has an adaptation by William Ivory of DH Lawrence’s The Rainbow and Women in Love coming up, melded together under the title The Sisters, starring Rosamund Pike and Rachael Stirling. Another classic being adapted for BBC Four is John Braine’s Room at the Top – I don’t know who is starring in this one.
I don’t think Channel 4 has announced its new season line-up yet but hopefully may have one or two period dramas in store too.
Lots of new interesting series coming soon! Great!
MG
I’m looking forward to them too, MG!
Thanks Judy! can’t wait for all these! Happy to say that I’ve heard of none of them – except ‘Room at the top’, so all the more to look forward to eh!
Ooh just spotted ‘The Rainbow’ and ‘Women in Love’ though, which I have seen. This promises to be exciting viewing – Thanks for telling us about it – appreciated:)
Will especially look forward to ‘Christopher and his kind’, ‘The Sisters’, ‘The Crimson Petal and the White’ and ‘Downton Abbey’!
I’m really looking forward to ‘Christopher and His Kind’ too as I like Isherwood and am interested in knowing more about Berlin life at that period – my daughter is a big Isherwood fan so she is excited about that one. Also ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Crimson Petal’ appeal a lot, but the return of ‘Garrow’s Law’ is top of this list for me after I loved the first series.
Some of those are too scandalous for me but “The First Men in the Moon” sounds interesting. And of course I can’t wait for Downton Abbey! Thanks for posting Judy!
Yes, ‘The First Men in the Moon’ sounds like a real oddity – it will be very interesting to see a sci-fi film which is also a period piece. Thanks, Charley!
Thanks for the news about the exciting new line up. There are some potentially very interesting productions to look forward to. It is nice to see some twentieth century period dramas for a change rather than endless remakes of Austens proving that it is possible to have too much of a good thing.
I agree we’ve had rather a lot of Austen remakes, but would still like to see some 18th and 19th-century works adapted, though I agree it is nice to have some 20th century ones too! Thanks, Janette.
Just a few more costume dramas that im aware are coming up-
BBCs Upstairs Downstairs-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/07_july/30/upstairs_downstairs.shtml
Also South Riding-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/08_august/05/south_riding.shtml
Thanks, Hayley – I will be eagerly looking forward to both of these, although I don’t think either of them is due to start this coming season. Sir Tom Stoppard has also been commissioned to do a four-part version of Ford Madox Ford’s ‘Parade’s End’ – so there are a few more goodies in store for us costume drama addicts!
I’m not so sure about Upstairs Downstairs. I found the earlier series a little too soapy but will give it a try. I am glad to hear that South Riding is going ahead. I recall the former adaptation starring Dorothy Tutin and read the book many years ago. I also read about the Stoppard adaptation. I am not familiar with the book but sounds very promising. So a lot to look forward to.
Judy I also love the Earlier adaptations and don’t want 20th century literary adaptation at the cost of Victorian or REgency or earlier historical dramas but I do feel that some stories have been over done at the expense of greater breadth. Sorry if my wording was a little misleading.
Hi Janette, I’ve only seen odd bits and pieces of Upstairs Downstairs but really want to see some of the old episodes before the new ones start! I haven’t ever seen the older adaptation of ‘South Riding’ or read the book, but am looking forward to it as I’ve heard good things about the novel and I’m also really pleased that a Davies project is going ahead after a couple were cancelled – it’s a shame for such a great writer to be messed around by TV companies. I agree with you there is a lot to look forward to – and I also agree that we need both earlier and newer adaptations!
Downton Abbey (yes a startlingly electrifying cast) and The Crimson Petal and the White make me long to have some magical connection to British TV. I hope those two will eventually come out in DVD. I no longer watch Masterpiece theater where these are aired, partly because I know they’re often ruthlessly cut and the framing is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Ellen
I think US TV usually puts up a lot of the money for any expensive production like these, so it is a shame that you get them shown with major cuts to fit in ads, plus the framing you mention. I hope you are right and they soon come out on DVD. Thank you, Ellen.
Anything with Maggie Smith gets my attention! :-)
I know just what you mean, Gina – she is one of my favourite actresses too. Thanks!
Apologies if you’ve already mentioned this Judy BUT Upstairs Downstairs is going ahead with Jean Marsh as housekeeper and a new family moving into Heaton Place! Can’t wait sounds great!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8303620.stm
I’m really excited about this too – have mentioned it once or twice but not in this posting as there was nothing about it in the BBC autumn press pack, which made me think maybe it was due to be shown a bit later. I’ve read that filming has now started in Wales, so I’m wondering if it may indeed turn up later in the season or maybe even at Christmas – it’s initially a three-part series, with more to come, so that could be an ideal slot for it, to take the place of ‘Cranford’ last year! Thanks, Lynda!
I read that larkrise to candleford christmas special was on over the christmas 2010 holiday. If so when exactly will It be on . i missed It last year
Hi Deanne, sorry not to be much help but I haven’t heard anything about it being repeated – I have just had a look through the TV listings but haven’t spotted it and also checked at locatetv.com which didn’t have any info about a repeat showing… hope you can find out for certain. The new series of Lark Rise is supposed to start in January (January 9 according to the show’s fansite).
I just watched Upstairs Downstairs and was very surprised by it, especially after reading a lot of rather negative reviews. I enjoyed it only I did feel that they were cramming too much into three episodes. Six episodes were required at the very least to do the story justice. I am pleased that a new series has been commissioned and will be longer.
cheers
Janette
Hi.
I just heard that Room at the Top was pulled out of the program at the last minute due to a copyright issue.
I hope it will be successfully resolved. So much money and effort goes into productions it would be a shame for all concerned if all was wasted.
Janette
That is such a disappointment – let’s hope it soon sees the light of day. I do agree it would be a great shame for all concerned, as you say. Thanks, Janette!
I am a big fan of costume Dramas and ever since i was a little girl instead of watching CBBeebies i much rather enjoyed watching Road to Avonle and Anne of Green Gables. Though i am still a fan of them my interests have recently swayed on to other television dramas such as North and South and Bleak House. I am currently at university in my third year, doing my final year project. It is based on Costume Dramas and i would be most grateful if anyone involved in this site would be able to help me; via email, get some email adresses of anyone who specialises in this area for an occupation.
Thank you
Alisha. B.Boyd