1/12/11

Heads Up Anglophiles (or period drama lovers)!


PBS is currently showing this wonderful period costume drama, which was a sensational success in the UK last year, I had heard rave reviews about it from numerous UK friends and relations.

Courtesy of Wikipedia - The drama's first season is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, stately home of the Earl of Grantham, early in the reign of King George V, during the two years prior to the Great War and commencing with news of the sinking of the Titanic, an event which triggers much of the storyline. It follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. In particular it follows the problems of 'the entail', after the known heirs are both killed and an unknown heir falls into line to inherit the estate.

The first series cost an estimated £1 million an hour to film, making Downton Abbey the most expensive British TV show ever produced. It is also the most successful British period drama since Brideshead Revisited, with UK ratings exceeding 10 million viewers.
 

It features the illustrious Dame Maggie Smith, one of our best character actresses playing the Dowager Duchess and she is supported by a fine cast. The story moves along at a good pace and the locations and costumes are just lush. It also has a few moments in the first episode that made both of us laugh out loud.


It is being shown on Sunday nights on PBS, but they are repeating the first episode over the next few days. Check your local PBS schedule HERE

If you have been a fan of British costume drama's in the past then you will love this, it is without doubt at the top of the tree of period dramas.

19 comments:

Mary (Bookfan) said...

It's on my dvr! I love this era of history.

Amy said...

I dvr'd it Sunday night and finally finished watching tonight. Can't wait for the next installment!

Linda Jennings said...

Thanks for this reminder!

Pam said...

Oh, we watched it! DIVINE! Maggie Smith is just the BEST. And what was it that Elizabeth McGovern was in when she was younger? I just can't remember. I always liked her. Great cast, delish drama, we can't wait for more!

Kay said...

I will take your advice. I love English period dramas. Your advice about Doc Martin was right on the money so I'm going to always follow your recommendations.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

That looks really cool.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

It certainly was a fantastic show!

Victoria x

Sherilyn -Dominee Huisvrouw said...

For some reason this reminded me of "Regency House Party". Did you ever see that one? It was kind of a historical reality dating show.

Stella Jones said...

I don't know what PBS is Sarah. Is it something I have to pay for?

Mom in High Heels said...

Yay! I saw posters for this in the Tube when we went through London a few months ago. I LOVE Maggie Smith.

George said...

Thanks for the heads up. This is something I wouldn't want to miss.

Anonymous said...

This looks like a lovely show! I need my own dvr for all of these types of things.

Expat mum said...

Watched the first episode on Sunday. B
Best line? Maggie Smith - "What's a weekend?"

Unknown said...

EPM that was one of the lines that made us laugh out loud- classic!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

HI Sarah, Anything that Dame Maggie Smith is in has to be wonderful. Thanks for telling us about this one.
Hugs,
Betsy

Frostbite and Sunburn said...

We bought and downloaded this last week and sat and watched the whole thing in three nights. Bloody marvelous! A stunningly produced piece of television

clairz said...

I am so glad to find out about this series. I've been watching the Hamish MacBeth mysteries from BBC lately, and loving the Scottish countryside I see. Now I've added your recommendation to my Netflix list so I can visit a bit of England, too. It's always nice to "travel" a bit, even this way.

Gill - That British Woman said...

lets hope they decide to show it up here in Canada at some point, I don't have PBS on our tv.

Gill in Canada

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