Masterpiece’ period drama branded ‘the next Downton Abbey’ by fans

The BBC five-part series was inspired by a much-loved novel series which has sold more than three million copies worldwide.

Period drama fans have fallen in love with the 2007 BBC series, Cranford (Image: BBC)

Period drama lovers have been raving about a BBC period drama that has fans “completely hooked” by a little-known noughties TV show with a powerhouse cast. The 2007 series Cranford is a critically acclaimed adaptation of three Elizabeth Gaskell novellas. The five-part series was a culmination of the books Cranford, My Lady Ludlow and Mr Harrison’s Confessions, published between 1851 and 1853.

Set in the early 1840s, in the fictional rural market town of Cranford, Cheshire, the show chronicles a close-knit, matriarchal community navigating the anxieties and heartaches of a rapidly changing world. The town of Cranford is fiercely protective of its traditional ways and is governed by a strict, unspoken code of social etiquette, spearheaded primarily by a group of genteel, middle-class spinsters and widows.

The overarching conflict of the series centres on tradition versus modernity, specifically the encroaching Industrial Revolution and the impending construction of a railway line that threatens to pierce their quiet, insular bubble.

The story kicks off in 1842, focusing on the household of the sern, propriety-focused Deborah Jenkyns (played by Eileen Atkins) and her gentler, more anxious sister, Miss Matty (Judi Dench). They welcome a young houseguest, Mary Smith (Lisa Dillon), who acts as the audience’s eyes into the town’s gossipy eccentricities.

It focuses on two major shake-ups to the village, the first being the hunky new village doctor, Dr. Frank Harrison (Simon Woods), who introduces modern, untested medical techniques that initially clash with the old-fashioned views of the town. It doesn’t take long before he becomes entangled in several romantic relations with multiple women, but ultimately only has eyes for the parson’s daughter, Sophy Hutton (Kimberley Nixon).

Another cause of contention is the arrival of Captain Brown (Jim Carter), a retired military man who oversees the railway project. While his presence initially ruffles the feathers of traditionalists, his genuine kindness ultimately wins over the town.

The five-part series features Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Michael Gambon and Tom Hiddleston (Image: BBC)

The show ended in 2009 with a two-part sequel titled Return to Cranford, written by Heidi Thomas and directed by Simon Curtis. It took place in 1844, a year after the wedding of Sophy and Dr Harrison and featured railway sequences at Foxfield Railway in Staffordshire.

It also features Imelda Staunton, Michael Gambon, Julia McKenzie and very early career appearances from Tom Hiddleston, Michelle Dockery and Jodie Whittaker. The show was adored by viewers, with 8.43 million tuning in every week, outperforming ITV1’s usually dominant I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

The series scooped up several awards in 2008, including three BAFTAs for Best Drama Serial, Best Actress and Audience Award, as well as winning four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Royal Television Society Award.

What may surprise some viewers is that, although Cranford is supposedly set in Cheshire, none of the exteriors was filmed there; instead, the production team used locations in Surrey, Windsor, Wycombe, and Oxford. Another large portion of filming was done at Lacock in Wiltshire, which has been used for several previous BBC period dramas, including Pride and Prejudice, Emma, The Other Boleyn Girl and the Harry Potter Films.

The series, which is available to stream on Netflix, boasts an impressive 8.3/ 10 on the popular critics website IMDB and has received a wave of love from fans online despite airing nearly 20 years ago. One user penned: “Elizabeth Gaskill… The Alternative Austen. I’m a big Gaskill fan and had just reread Cranston last winter. The entire cast was astounding, and the miniseries was altogether remarkably entertaining!

Another agreed: “A ‘woh’s who’ of British acting! Not a dry eye in the house, absolute perfection. Never has a better cast been assembled for a TV drama. For me, Imelda Staunton shone with her fantastic comic timing, but they were all excellent.”

A third gushed: “If you thought that North and South, Bleak House and Jane Eyre were heroic steps forward in period adaptation, you are going to adore this. I cannot believe that anyone could miss this wonderful piece of work. Move over, Downton Abbey, a new show has taken the top spot!”

CRE: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2215753/masterpiece-period-drama-cranford-next-downton-abbey?int_source=mantis_rec&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this