Jane Austen fans are celebrating the success of 'Sanditon', a period drama adapted from the author's unfinished novel, now streaming free on ITVX. Viewers have described the series as 'profoundly juicy' and 'splendid', with some even claiming it surpasses the beloved classic 'Pride and Prejudice'.
The series was created by Andrew Davies, who also adapted 'Pride and Prejudice' for television in 1995. 'Sanditon' is based on Austen's final, incomplete manuscript of 24,000 words, left unfinished at her death in 1817. Davies completed the story using Austen's established characters.
Set in the Regency era, the drama follows Charlotte Heywood, a spirited young woman who moves to the fishing village of Sanditon as it attempts to become a seaside resort. The show originally aired in 2019 but was cancelled by ITV. However, after fan campaigns and support from PBS and BritBox, two more series were commissioned.
Filmed in Somerset locations including Clevedon, Weston-super-Mare, and Dyrham Park, the series stars Rose Williams, Theo James, and Kris Marshall. Critics have called it 'an intoxicating pleasure bomb', while fans have praised the acting and storyline, with one viewer saying they have 'never been so intensely swept away by a series'.
